Allege interference by social activists, political party workers

Seven honorary gynaecologists attached to the Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Hospital run by the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) decided to go on strike from Friday. The doctors in their letter addressed to the medical superintendent stated that interference by social activists and political party workers in their work had prompted their decision.

The letter said, “There is repeated interference by social workers, politicians, corporators and officers in power. They dictate terms and modes of treatment. There is no availability of an anaesthetist round the clock and specific medicines in emergencies. There is also overruling of decisions on treatments made by senior obstetricians.” The letter was signed by Dr. S.N. Agarwal, Dr. Vipin Checkar, Dr. Aruna Sadarangani, Dr. Ruhi Perzada, Dr. Ankita Patel, Dr. Pratibha Nizai and Dr. Ashok Shukla.

The hospital records nearly 120 deliveries a month. Dr. Checkar said, “Gynaecology is the only department in the hospital that is working in a full-fledged way. Most of the other specialities have out-patient departments.”

He added, “The interference in our work is so much that we had to withdraw our services. Why should people tell us if a delivery should be normal or through a C-section? We have raised the issue with the authorities several times but nothing had been done.”