Doctors' strike hits Mumbai patients

Mumbai, July 9 (ANI): The indefinite strike by over 4,000 resident doctors has affected patients in Mumbai badly.

The doctors want a salary hike and an increase in their monthly stipend. They have stopped working since 8 pm Tuesday.

The strike has taken a toll on patients, making their lives miserable. They are now running from pillar to post to get admission.

"I came here for treatment but was told that doctors are on strike. People are coming from various parts of the city but have returned disappointed. This is a very serious issue. The whole system is suffering," claimed Santosh Kumar Singh, a distressed patient.

Their relatives have also complained that they are being refused admission.

"All senior doctors are on strike, the junior doctors cannot handle things. They told me to take the patient (wife) somewhere else. Where should I take her? Other hospitals ask for more money, where do I get the money from?" said Prajapati Shyamsunder.

The hospital authorities, however, claimed that they have made arrangements to deal with the situation.

"We have senior doctors, we have Additional Medical Officer coming from peripheral hospitals who are helping us and our services are working around the clock," said Dr Sandhya Kamat, Dean, Lokmanya Tilak Hospital, Mumbai.

Resident doctors in all states are covered by a central residency scheme.

In Delhi, for instance, resident doctors get about 921.17 dollars a month for an eight-hour shift, while the resident doctors working in Maharashtra for 24-hour shift draw only 307 dollars per month. (ANI)