Medical services in Maharashtra are likely to hit due to the indefinite strike called by intern doctors from June 13 to press for their demand of increased pay, sources said on June 12.

According to sources, the intern doctors in the state were paid merely Rs 200 per day, that is Rs 6,000 per month, and the state government had assured in 2015 that the payment would be increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 11,000. But, the hike was not implemented despite their demand from time to time, sources said.

A state-wide demonstration was also held on April 26 this year and State Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan had assured the representatives of Association of State Medical Interns Maharashtra that the matter would be taken care of within 15 days. However, even after more than a month had passed, no action was taken by the state government in this regard. Therefore, the intern doctors were left with no option than to call indefinite strike from June 13. A letter informing about this decision of the association was submitted to Mr Mahajan and the dean of Medical College, sources added.