Mumbai: The 3,500 doctors of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) have decided to go on strike in all large public hospitals on Thursday to protest de-recognition of the departments in premier medical colleges among other things.

Patients face a bad time as in last 10 days, this is the third agitation of doctors, and is followed to last week’s protests by medical teachers in government hospitals and resident doctors from suburban hospitals.

MARD is protesting departments’ de-recognition in medical colleges and opposing government’s compulsory three-year bond to serve in rural areas after completing post-graduation.

Dr Mahadev Bansode, president of MARD, said, “We, as doctors, have to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to practise. Until recently, MMC was giving registration to PG from government and corporation colleges irrespective of MCI recognition.”

He also said that MMC is now denying registration to candidates whose seats were not recognized creating serious problems for many doctors.

MARD members, said, “Around 220 PG medical seats, which is nearly 20% of total seats are de-recognised.”

Dr Tayade, director of medical education and research, said, “We are in discussions with the MCI so that they do not de-recognise the degree.”

About 150 Maharashtra state run hospitals’ senior teaching medical faculty have gone on the mass casual leave on Monday, alleging government did not fulfill their the demands.

On October 23, senior medical doctors/ teachers had submitted the mass resignation notice stating that the state government should fulfill their demands including regularization of all posts, pay hike equivalent to the other states.

According to Maharashtra State Medical Teachers Association (MSMTA), “the government should regularize all the posts by giving the temporary teachers permament cadre, time-bound promotion and pay scale, salary at par with other state governments like Karnataka, allow private practice and give allowance for non-practice.”

Earlier government had assured to fulfill their demands by September 30.

Dr Ram Raje, MSMTA president said, “Since the government failed to implement our demands as promised, we have given the notice of resignation which includes 70 divisional board teachers and 80 post-graduate faculty.”

The Dean of the J J group of hospitals said that the patients will not suffer as we have 400 junior and middle-level doctors in all the four government hospitals.

Suresh Shetty, state minister for medical education, said that Chief Secretary has convened a meeting with the senior doctors and some decision will be taken on the issue on Monday.