Karnataka doctors threaten to resign on May 14

Karnataka State Government Medical Officers’ Association has threatened that its members would submit their resignations en masse on May 14 if the government failed to meet their demands.
They are demanding that their allowances be merged with their basic salary and that the responsibility of 10 district hospitals be taken back from medical education department and restored to health department.

If the doctors carry out their threat, at least 3,500 of them from various government hospitals will submit their resignations. 

President of the association, Dr Ravindra HN, said, “We have just two demands and there are no financial implications on the government. We hope the state government will listen to us before we resort to such a move (resignation).”

However, Karnataka State Government Specialist Doctors’ Association president, Dr M Thimmappa, said the threat of mass resignation was not appropriate.

He said, “It’s a hasty decision by them. Only a few have taken a decision on resignation and are imposing it on other members.

This is totally uncalled for. Though we have given our moral support to their demands, mass resignation at this juncture is uncalled for. The people seeking service from us will be put at a risk if doctors resort to resignation. I request members of our as well as their associations not to resort to such a move.”