Govt hasn’t paid specialist doctors for two months

Govt hasn’t paid specialist doctors for two months

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:05.12.2020

Hundreds of senior resident doctors, who have been working in government medical college hospitals across in the state after completing their PG courses, have not been paid salary for two months.

These doctors, who have been on Covid duty, were due to receive Rs 60,000 per month as stipend. But most have not been paid since October as it appears the government has not factored in the increase in senior residents reporting for mandatory one-year government service after completing their courses. Most of these doctors joined service in mid-September.

While some old medical colleges in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Ballari and Hubballi have paid their doctors, some of the newer colleges like the ones in Shivamogga, Kalaburagi and Mandya are yet to disburse payment.

TK Anil Kumar, principal secretary, medical education department, said the issue has been brought to the notice of the finance department and that it will be resolved soon. “Old medical colleges like the ones in Bengaluru, Ballari, Hubballi and Mysuru have all paid their senior resident doctors. Those working in medical colleges in the rest of the state will be paid soon,” he said.

About 1,500 doctors with postgraduate medical degrees have to mandatorily complete stints in government institutions. Of these, close to 450 were posted for work in government hospitals under the administration of the health and family welfare department. They have been posted as duty doctors in community health centres, taluk and district hospitals. They have to be paid by the health and family welfare department.

Recently the matter was brought to the notice of Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar, who told TOI, “Measures have been taken to disburse salaries for senior resident doctors.”

One affected doctor said, “We have been working without pay for several months now. We are all specialists. This is a mandatory posting, but the government has failed to honour its word.”

Many also alleged they were not given hostel facility close to where they work.

The Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD), which broached the matter with the state government, said some of hospitals have failed to pay according to the revised salary structure. “Some hospitals have paid these doctors Rs 42,000 per month, whereas under the revised stipend structure they should get Rs 60,000 per month. This too has to be corrected,” said Dr Dayanand Sagar, president, KARD.

GOVT LAG: Specialist doctors have to compulsorily complete stints in government facilities, but they haven’t been paid since October

Hospitals like Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health and Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics have paid these doctors Rs 42,000 per month, whereas under the revised stipend structure they should get Rs 60,000 per month.

Dr Dayanand Sagar

PRESIDENT, KARD