Medical officers in the State have threatened to submit mass resignation on October 27 if the State Government does not take any steps to pay salary every month on time and meet other pending demands, said President of the Karnataka State Medical Officers Association T.A. Veerabhadraiah.
Talking to reporters here on Monday, Dr. Veerabhadraiah said the State government has not paid salaries of medical officers for the last four months. They have also not paid salary for nearly six months the Aryuvedic doctors who have been appointed across the state for monitoring health of school children.
One month wait
Dr. Veerabhadraiah said around 3,400 medical officers will submit their resignations on October 27. “We will, however, work for one month and allow the Government to look into the demands. If they do not do so by next month, we will ask the Government to accept our resignations,” he said.
Dr. Veerabharaiah said the presently salary for medical officers and other personnel coming under the Department of Health and Family Welfare was being paid through the respective Zilla Panchayats. “Money gets released to the Zilla Panchayat and from there to us. We want the Government to directly pay the salary to us,” he said. Moreover there was a big difference in the salaries of doctors under the Medical Education Department and the Family Welfare Department.
Among the other demands of the Association, Dr. Veerabhadraiah said doctors working on contract at different government hospitals should be paid Rs. 28,000 per month along with other allowances. His/her services should be made permanent after three years. The service during the period of contract should be considered for the purpose of pension, promotion and retirement. He said the Government has not been paying allowances to medical officers who are pursuing post graduate course.
The Association wanted the State Government to appoint casualty medical officers at the Primary and Community Health Centres and reduce burden of specialists who are presently performing the task. He said the Government should establish two dental laboratories in each district for implementing scheme of providing free dentures to senior citizens. The Association also wants the State Government to bring all district hospitals under the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
Small demands: minister
Reacting to the demands, Health Minister U.T. Khader told The Hindu these demands were small ones and there was no need to threaten resignations. “We are ready for discussions with Association. But if they are hell bent on putting in their papers we cannot help it.”
Regarding delay in payment of salary, Mr. Khader said a system has been evolved to pay salaries through Zilla Panchayat. “We cannot change it. So far none have brought to my notice about delay in payment of salary which can be addressed.” The department has sent proposal to the finance department for increasing salary of medical officers from Rs. 46,000 to Rs. 58,000.
On the disparity in the salary of officers under the Health and Family Welfare Department and Medical Education department, Mr. Khader said salary was being paid as fixed by the department. Mr. Khader said appointment of casualty medical officers will be taken up after the vacant posts of doctors at the Primary Health Centres are filled up.
