Government doctors, who had submitted their resignations en masse on October 27, withdrew them on Wednesday following an assurance from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that 12 of their 14 demands — including accommodating Health Department doctors in district hospitals — will be met.
However, the demand of seeking pay parity with the doctors of the Medical Education Department was not considered owing to “technical reasons”, Health Minister U.T. Khader said while briefing presspersons after the two-hour meeting with the Chief Minister. The government has promised to study the salary structure of doctors adopted by other States and take a decision.
One of the other key demands, to retain district hospitals within the Health Department, could also not be considered because of technical reasons. However, 45 specialists’ posts in each of these hospitals — including that of the district surgeon — will be filled up with doctors from the Health Department, which addresses the doctors’ grouse that they are deprived of promotion opportunities beyond taluk hospitals.
T.A. Veerabhadraiah, president of the Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA), said the association was convinced by the Chief Minister’s assurances.
Apologising to patients who have suffered owing to the doctors’ agitation, he said they would “withdraw their resignations without any conditions”.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said he had advised the doctors not to take extreme steps in the future as it would put patients to hardship. “Patients come to government hospitals because they cannot afford treatment in private hospitals. If you have any problems, get it resolved through discussions,” he said.
