Nagpur Dental College Residents Strike Over Unpaid Stipends
Seventy-two postgraduate dental resident doctors at the Government Dental College and Hospital in Nagpur launched a strike on Monday. They took this drastic action because their monthly stipends have remained unpaid for the last three months. This prolonged delay has triggered severe financial distress among the doctors and caused significant disruption to patient services at the hospital.
Financial Hardship Forces Action
The resident doctors are entitled to receive a monthly stipend of approximately seventy thousand rupees. However, they have not received this critical payment since October. Doctors openly stated that this delay has made it extremely difficult for them to manage their most basic expenses.
These essential costs include accommodation, mess bills, textbooks, medical instruments, and various examination-related fees. The financial strain has become unbearable for many.
Protest and Patient Service Disruption
Frustrated by the inaction, the aggrieved doctors staged a sit-in protest near the college's administrative offices. They emphasized that even repeated formal representations and appeals to the authorities had failed to yield any positive response or solution.
As a direct result of the strike, regular patient services at the GDCH faced major disruptions. The resident doctors form a crucial part of the hospital's workforce. Their absence immediately impacted clinical operations and patient care.
Personal Struggles and Uncertain Future
The situation has forced many young doctors into personal financial crises. Several residents revealed they had to borrow money from their families just to cover daily living expenses and professional costs. This added a layer of personal stress to their already demanding medical training.
As of late Monday evening, the striking doctors had not yet decided whether to resume their duties on Tuesday. The standoff continues, leaving both the doctors' futures and patient care in a state of uncertainty. The hospital administration now faces mounting pressure to resolve the stipend issue promptly.
