Mumbai: Members of Maharashtra Association of Gazetted Medical Officers (MAGMO), who were on strike since July 1, on Monday called off their stir after meeting Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
Chavan told reporters that most of the demands of MAGMO had been accepted earlier and the government is positive on some of the issues raised by them.
On demands which are deadlocked, a proposal would be brought in the Cabinet and efforts would be made to resolve them, he said.
MAGMO president Rajesh Gaikwad, who was on hunger strike for the last six days, said on the assurance of the Chief Minister the organisation was withdrawing the agitation.
"We apologise to the people for the hardships caused for the last six days," he said and assured that the medical officers would work two hours extra daily for next few days.
Gaikwad broke his hunger strike with juice offered to him by the Chief Minister.
"We agreed to call off our strike after we were assured by the Chief Minister that all our demands would be accepted by the state in the next 2-3 months," MAGMO's state coordinator Pramod Sonawane said.
A "promotional channel" will be opened for BAMS doctors, where they will be regularly given promotions, he said.
"The state government is ready to open a promotional channel for BAMS A group doctors who hold the post of additional district health officers," he said. The BAMS group B doctors, who are currently working on contractual basis, will be made permanent, Sonawane added.
The Chief Minister has also agreed to consider the demand of providing back-dated benefits to doctors, Sonawane said, adding that a final decision on it will be taken after the state Cabinet meeting.
The state government has also agreed to consider their demand for an 8-hour working schedule for all medical officers, he said.
"The state government has also told us that the retirement age for doctors would be increased from 58 to 62," he said, adding that all doctors who were suspended following their participation in strike will be reinstated.
Meanwhile, a senior official from the public health department said 1,418 medical officers working on ad hoc basis (temporary) were included in service in 2009 as a special case, after they signed a bond that they will not demand benefits and perks during their temporary service.
All 1,418 medical officers had signed the bond but later they went back on their word. "The demand for benefits with retrospective effect is not right. The government is positively considering all their other demands," the official said.
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