TN medicos want govt to increase stipend

TN medicos want govt to increase stipend

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.05.2021

Post graduate and super speciality doctors, who treat Covid-19 patients at government hospitals, have requested chief minister MK Stalin to increase their stipend.

These doctors (non-service) claim that they are paid only ₹37,000 to ₹47,000 as stipend per month, lowest in the country.

For instance, a M.D/M.S (Doctor of Medicine/Master of Surgery) postgraduate in Gujarat earns ₹84,000 to ₹87,500 and those in super speciality wards are paid up to Rs1,12,000 -- almost double of what a TN PG medico earns. Recently, many states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Maharashtra have increased the stipend amount for PG doctors, acknowledging their service during the pandemic. But Tamil Nadu has not revised the stipend amount for over three years.

Keerthi Varman, president of Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association said, “We are working for almost 100 hours every week but we are paid a pittance.

Even final year MBBS (undergraduate) students, who were roped in by Greater Chennai Corporation for Covid-19 duty, are earning more (₹40,000 per month) compared to a PG doctor in Chennai Medical College hospitals".

Another PG student from Stanley Medical College Hospital, who tested positive for Covid last week, said they hardly get four to five hours of sleep every day and work in life-threatening conditions. Staff nurses, who work on six-seven hour shifts, get the same pay as PGs.

"We are not asking for extra. All we are requesting is something we deserve," he said, requesting anonymity.

A senior state health department official rejected the PG doctors' allegation and said that they were paid ₹75,000 to ₹90,000 per month as remuneration for Covid work at par with top central medical institutions.

The government has recently given a one-time incentive of ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 too, he said.

"Alongside this, they are provided one-week quarantine at star hotels after every 6-7 days of service in Covid wards. The government takes care of their accommodation and food expenses," he said.

Though PGs accept that they are provided quarantine facilities, they denied the health authority's claim about stipend amount. According to their bank statement, they received ₹37,000- ₹47,000 as stipend in April.