Mumbai, July 19: The Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has suspended its proposed 24 hour strike scheduled for July 20 following intervention by the Bombay High Court in a case involving the alleged assault of doctors at a hospital in Dombivli.
The association had announced the statewide shutdown of outpatient department services in response to the incident involving doctors and healthcare workers at Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital. The protest was aimed at pressing the state government to strengthen legal and institutional safeguards for medical professionals.
The decision to withdraw the immediate protest came after the High Court stayed the bail granted to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and others accused in connection with the assault. The IMA said it was reconsidering the planned action in view of the court’s intervention.
However, the medical body maintained that its broader concerns remain unresolved. It has called for stricter provisions under the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions legislation to ensure greater protection for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
IMA Maharashtra president Dr Santosh Kulkarni said repeated incidents of violence against medical personnel had become a serious concern for the healthcare system. The association warned that failure to address its demands could lead to further protests, including a statewide service withdrawal on July 27 and an indefinite strike from August 9.
Resident doctors have also raised concerns over working conditions and hostel facilities. Representatives of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors are expected to discuss these issues with the state government.
The dispute has once again highlighted concerns surrounding the safety of healthcare workers, particularly in hospitals where medical staff frequently face confrontation from patients’ relatives and other individuals.
The IMA’s decision provides temporary relief for routine outpatient services, but the association has made clear that stronger legal protection and effective enforcement will remain central to its demands.