For the first time, government doctors have formed an All India federation to highlight the problems they face while treating the majority of the population that avails itself of healthcare facilities. There are over 125,000 sanctioned posts of government doctors across the country, of which nearly 25,000 are lying vacant.
One of the biggest issues facing the service sector doctors, compared to their colleagues in leading private hospital chains and clinics, is the lack of facilities and equipment. The doctors are demanding that this sector be paid more attention so that government healthcare can further improve.
Uniform pay scale “All government doctors in India should have uniform pay scales and conditions. Efforts should be made to attract the best doctors to the government sector,” Rana said.
The doctors’ associations are also seeking the formation of an all-India cadre of government doctors — the Indian Medical Service. They also want that health departments in states should be headed by professionals and not by bureaucrats.
“There is too much disparity in pay and service conditions among government doctors in states. The entry-level pay for a government doctor in Rajasthan is just Rs.30,000 per month for the first two years. In Haryana, the same category of doctors get Rs.50,000 per month while in Delhi it is Rs.65,000,” Kuldeep Singh pointed out.
In Madhya Pradesh, senior government doctors opting for a promotion have to suffer loss in pay due to the rules there, he added.
Raising concerns about security in view of recent incidents of violence against doctors, the associations are seeking the enactment of a central law and police protection at all health institutions.
Protection must be accorded to all in-service doctors against frivolous complaints and the government must introduce the system of professional indemnity insurance, the same associations have demanded.
The All India Federation of Government Doctors’ Associations will take shape this November at its national convention to be held in Vadodra, said the federation’s national convener, Ashish Rana. IANS
