Their counterparts in Delhi earn at thrice and even those in UP and West Bengal earn at least double their salaries.
It is ironic that when the country observed Doctor’s Day to appreciate for their efforts, junior doctors in the city were locking horns with the decision-makers for a ‘respectful’ pay package. The authorities have allegedly been sitting on the proposal of a salary hike for months now despite repeated reminders.
Around 4,000 resident doctors (post graduate students pursuing MD and MS) serving government as well as BMC hospitals across the state earn Rs15,000 a month as stipend. Their counterparts in Delhi earn thrice and even those in UP and West Bengal earn double their salaries. The doctors have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from July 7 if their demands are not met.
“Our proposal asking for a salary hike has been lying with the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) for about four months now even after several meetings and discussions,” said Dr Anil Dudhbhate, general secretary, central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). The resident doctors had a meeting with the DMER on Wednesday but it did not make much headway.
“We are expected to be on call for 24 hours whereas doctors at AIIMS in Delhi have an 8-hour shift,” he said. He said that the government ought to respect the fact that doctors also have to fight occupational hazards. “There are four doctors at the KEM Hospital who have contracted the dreaded multi-drug resistant tuberculosis while treating patients,” he said.
When asked, the DMER said that their proposal was under consideration. “They are demanding a salary at par with the central pay scale,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director, DMER. “We may not be able to stop them from striking as there are no immediate solutions to their demands,” he said.
Principal Secretary of medical education Bhushan Gagarani said that the DMER has been asked to submit a proposal. “They were given a hike in 2003 and now they have been demanding a raise again,” he said. “If feasible, the proposal will be sent to the finance department,” he said.
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