Pune: Sassoon Hospital Patient Care Disrupted as 400 Resident Doctors Continue Indefinite Strike
Pune, 6th August 2026: Patient care at Sassoon General Hospital has been severely affected after around 400 resident doctors from BJ Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital joined the statewide indefinite strike called by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) over their long-pending demands.
As part of the protest, Outpatient Department (OPD) services and scheduled surgeries on August 5 and 6 have been suspended, causing inconvenience to hundreds of patients. However, emergency services and urgent surgeries continue to function to ensure that critically ill patients receive timely medical care.
The strike follows an inconclusive meeting between the Maharashtra government and the Central MARD delegation. While the government assured the doctors that their demands would be conveyed to the Chief Minister and that a positive decision would be considered in the coming days, the resident doctors expressed dissatisfaction, stating that no concrete or written assurance had been provided.
Consequently, Central MARD has decided to continue the statewide indefinite strike from August 6, maintaining that the agitation will not be withdrawn until the government issues a satisfactory written commitment on their key demands.
Speaking on the ongoing protest, Dr. Dheeraj Dhote, President of MARD at BJ Government Medical College, said:
«”The government has only given verbal assurances regarding our demands. Until we receive a written commitment, the protest will continue. OPD services and scheduled surgeries will remain suspended, while emergency treatment and emergency surgeries will continue without interruption.”»
The ongoing strike has placed significant pressure on routine healthcare services at Sassoon Hospital, with patients seeking non-emergency treatment bearing the brunt of the disruption.
