PG resident doctors protest hike in fees, non-payment of pandemic allowance

PG resident doctors protest hike in fees, non-payment of pandemic allowance

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:08.10.2021

Resident doctors pursuing post-graduation courses in various medical colleges in Karnataka boycotted elective work on Thursday, while seeking reduction in academic fees and payment of Covid-19 allowances. However, they called off the protest by the evening after the medical education minister assured them that their allowances will be paid soon.

Doctors said that although the Covid allowance was announced in May, none have received it yet. The allowance amounts to Rs 10,000 a month per resident doctor.

Emergency services, ICUs and Covid-related services were unhindered by the strike since doctors only boycotted only elective services. Authorities at Victoria Hospital said faculty, staff, senior residents and fellowship persons of all departments managed OPDs on Thursday.

The resident doctors’ other demand — reduction of tuition fees — is yet to be addressed. “The minister said it will take time to decide as there are technical issues involved,” said a Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors office bearer.

The association revealed the state government had hiked fees from Rs 23,000 to Rs 1.3 lakh in 2019. There are around 5,000 resident doctors in the state. The association says fees for PG courses in the neighbouring state of Kerala is only Rs 11,500, while Rajasthan charges Rs 12,000. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh charge no fees. In Maharashtra, it is Rs 90,000. At the same time, the stipend is the lowest in Karnataka amongst these states at Rs 45,000-Rs 55,000. In Delhi and Gujarat, it is as high as Rs 85,000.

“Although the government and public glorified us as Covid warriors, it is of interest to note that, as young doctors, have in reality paid the government a hefty sum of money to do this thankless job,” the association said. “Umpteen representations were made to the government and administration in the past year to waive fees for the year 2021-22 in view of the fact that the past academic year was solely spent on Covid-19 care with near nil academics and clinical exposure in our chosen specialities. Government has no explanation for the hefty fee hike from thousands to lakhs.”

About 65-75% of patients in state-run hospitals are managed by resident doctors and one-fifth of them had contracted Covid-19, they said.

WARRIORS IN THE LURCH: Members of Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors during their demonstration on Thursday