Mumbai: More than 4,500 doctors of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) have gone on an indefinite strike since the night of July 7.

These doctors are demanding medical insurance and better working hours. They are also demanding that their pay scales be at par with doctors in Delhi.

Resident doctors from 13 Government Hospitals and four Municipal Hospitals across Maharashtra struck work from Tuesday night. They claim that resident doctors elsewhere in the country are paid more than twice as much as they are also asking for shorter working hours.

They claimed that the resident doctors in Maharashtra are paid just over Rs 15,700 per month whereas doctors in Delhi are paid over Rs 45,000 and those at the Banaras Hindu University command about Rs 42,000 per month.

They added that even doctors in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Chhatisgarh fare better, with UP doctors being paid Rs 39,000 and Chhattisgarh doctors get Rs 38,265.

The MARD also claims that while resident doctors in Maharashtra often work round the clock, doctors in other states have eight to 10 hour long shifts.

MARD general secretary, Dr. Anil Dudhbhate demanded, “When the entrance tests and all other evaluation criteria are the same across the country, then why this discrepancy in pay scales?”

On July 7, the members of the MARD had presented their demands to representatives of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research but talks failed.