3 weeks ago
BMC Resident Doctors Withdraw Routine Services as Protest Intensifies
Resident doctors in Mumbai are doctors who work and train in city-run hospitals.
They have been asking the government for better pay, hostels, canteens, and study rules for a long time.
They are also upset about a plan to register certain other medical practitioners.
When officials met them but did not promise anything in writing, the doctors decided to protest harder.
From August 6, they stopped routine services like regular check-ups and planned surgeries.
They promised that emergency care would keep running, so urgent patients are still safe.
The doctors' main demands are a new leave policy, no tuition fees, better hostels and food, and stopping that registration plan.
Officials said the issue may go to the Chief Minister, but gave no firm answer.
So the doctors are waiting to see if the government really helps them.
BMC MARD escalated its protest after meetings with senior civic and state health officials failed to yield concrete assurances on resident doctors' long-pending demands.
From August 6 until further notice, routine OPD and IPD services, academic activities, elective surgeries and procedures, Central Laboratory and Fever OPD services were withdrawn across BMC hospitals.
Emergency and critical care—including casualty, trauma care, ICUs, labour rooms, emergency surgeries and E-Lab services—continues without interruption.
A joint delegation of BMC MARD and Central MARD met DMER and MMC officials over the proposed MMC registration of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners; the government said the matter would be placed before the Chief Minister.
Key demands include suspending that registration, enacting strict legislation against cross-pathy by non-allopathic practitioners, and resolving leave policy, tuition fee, hostel, canteen and campus security issues.
- Who
- Resident doctors of BMC hospitals, represented by BMC MARD (with Central MARD), and civic/state officials including Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Ughade and officials of DMER and MMC.
- What
- Escalation of the resident doctors' protest, with withdrawal of routine OPD, IPD, elective, academic, Central Laboratory and Fever OPD services across BMC hospitals while emergency services continue.
- Where
- BMC hospitals across Brihanmumbai (Mumbai), Maharashtra.
- When
- Announced on Thursday; routine services withdrawn from August 6 until further notice.
- Why
- Because meetings with senior civic and state health officials failed to produce concrete assurances on demands such as the NMC leave policy, tuition fee exemption, stipend, hostel/canteen facilities, and the proposed MMC registration of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners.
Resident Doctors (BMC MARD)
Government Officials (Civic/State)
Registration of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners
Resident Doctors (BMC MARD)
Demand immediate suspension of the MMC registration of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners and strict enforcement of legislation prohibiting cross-pathy by non-allopathic practitioners; say no concrete decision or written assurance was provided.
Government Officials (Civic/State)
Proposed MMC registration of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners; assured the delegation the matter would be placed before the Chief Minister, with no concrete decision announced.
How to resolve the dispute
Resident Doctors (BMC MARD)
Escalating to withdrawal of routine services is necessary because meetings with senior civic and state health officials produced no concrete assurances on their demands.
Government Officials (Civic/State)
Officials said the issues would be taken up with the appropriate authorities and the matter placed before the Chief Minister, indicating the issues remain under official consideration through talks.
Key facts
- Protesting body
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation-Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (BMC MARD)
- Service withdrawal
- From August 6 until further notice
- Withdrawn services
- Routine OPD and IPD, academic activities, elective surgeries and procedures, Central Laboratory, Fever OPD
- Services continuing
- Emergency/casualty, trauma care, ICUs, labour rooms, emergency surgeries, E-Lab and other essential emergency services
- Key demands
- Suspend MMC registration of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners; ban cross-pathy; implement new leave policy; tuition fee exemption; hostel, canteen and campus security improvements
- Officials met
- Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Ughade; officials of DMER and Maharashtra Medical Council
- Government response
- Issues to be taken up with appropriate authorities; BHMS registration matter to be placed before the Chief Minister; no concrete decision or written assurance
- Location
- BMC hospitals, Brihanmumbai (Mumbai), Maharashtra










