MUMBAI: Several thousand resident doctors from civic hospitals in Mumbai have formally declared the start of their agitation in a staged manner from Wednesday, April 22, 2026. This move came after talks with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about implementing the new Dearness Allowance (DA) and paying off substantial amounts of arrears broke down.
The Spark for Agitation
Represented by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (BMC MARD), the healthcare professionals are protesting the administration’s failure to reflect three government-approved DA hikes in their salaries. Despite official resolutions, a cumulative 31% increase in DA remains unimplemented. The association claims this delay has resulted in arrears amounting to approximately ₹50,000 per doctor, causing widespread financial frustration.
“We have shown restraint and engaged in dialogue for months,” said Dr. Amar Agame, General Secretary of BMC MARD. “However, with no concrete circular issued, we are forced to take a democratic stand for our rightful benefits.”
Phased Escalation
The protest is structured to minimize immediate patient impact while signaling the gravity of the situation:
- Wednesday: Doctors began wearing black ribbons while on duty to register their silent protest.
- Friday: The agitation is set to intensify, with doctors posted in Outpatient Departments (OPDs) and operation theatres planning to proceed on mass leave.
Administrative Reaction
The BMC administration blamed the delay on technicalities. According to Dr. Shailesh Mohite, Dean of Nair Hospital and Director of Medical Education, the delay was caused by the lack of an authorized signatory who was away on leave at the moment. Even though the administration requested the doctors to wait until the signatory returned, the group proceeded, claiming it to be a “pattern of broken promises.”
If the deadlock persists, the civic health infrastructure, which constitutes the lifeline of Mumbai’s health services, will experience some strain. Although emergency services will continue to run, any extended strike will cause serious disruption to regular medical procedures in big hospitals such as KEM, Sion, and Nair Hospitals.
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