Doctors Strike in Kalyan-Dombivli Over Assault by Corporator

Routine medical services and OPD consultations across all major civic-run hospitals and centres in Kalyan-Dombivli were suspended on Tuesday after their doctors, nurses and paramedical staff went on a strike to protest the assault of a hospital’s staffers by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, his supporters and a pregnant patient’s relatives, over purported delay in treatment the previous night. Emergency services weren’t hit.

Based on a doctor’s complaint, Vishnu Nagar police filed an FIR against four men, including Mhatre, and a woman under relevant provisions of BNS and Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010.

The protesters said their agitation will continue until the accused, including the corporator, are arrested.

Indian Medical Association’s Kalyan and Dombivli units said if this action is not initiated by Wednesday, all private doctors affiliated with them will suspend their services in solidarity.

The FIR against Mhatre was filed after protesters alleged that attempts were being made to lodge a case only against the patient’s relatives despite the corporator being seen in CCTV footage attacking the staff.

A 33-year-old, Priyanka Ugmale, was admitted to Shastrinagar Hospital in Dombivli in an advanced stage of pregnancy late on Monday. Doctors found the umbilical cord had looped itself twice around the foetus and decided to perform a C-section. Hospital sources said doctors anticipated that the newborn would require admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but as the hospital’s NICU was full, the medical team began contacting other hospitals to secure a NICU bed before proceeding with the surgery.

Meanwhile, the patient’s relatives allegedly contacted Mhatre, who reached the hospital and confronted the doctors over the purported delay in treatment. The argument escalated.

CCTV footage purportedly shows Mhatre assaulting a gynaecologist, following which his supporters allegedly attacked other doctors and hospital staffers. Sources said Mhatre was upset over the delay and claimed doctors did not respond to his phone calls. Doctors, however, maintained that they were busy arranging a NICU bed, which was necessary before performing the procedure.

Following the attack, the patient was shifted to another civic facility, where doctors performed the C-section and the newborn was admitted to its NICU.

After a meeting with IMA Kalyan president Dr Rajesh Raghav Raju, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) commissioner Abhinav Goel asked the doctors and staffers who were attacked to lodge a police complaint and assured them that strict legal action will be taken against all those responsible. He said the civic administration will strengthen security at all KDMC hospitals and urged the protesting staffers to resume services.