Junior doctors of Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital demand hike in stipend
Junior doctors of the Government Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital here remained on a half-day strike in support of their demand for a hike in stipend besides a host of other facilities while offering services in a ‘Parallel OPD’ set up outside by them for the convenience of patients on Tuesday.
However, patients arriving in Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital building were still put to inconvenience. In the OPDs and wards in the hospital building, the patients had to wait for senior doctors in absence of junior doctors who share major responsibilities. The hospital authorities denied of any problem due to strike and claimed that proper arrangements were made in advance to provide services to the patients.
As many as 420 junior doctors of the hospital will remain on half day strike till Wednesday. “We had made representations to the Dean, Director Medical Education and Health Minister regarding our demands. However, the authorities paid no heed to our request and eventually we had to resort to strike,” said President of Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) Dr Kunal Paul.
Dr Paul said that the junior doctors of Dr Ambedkar Hospital are getting stipend ranging from Rs 31000-35000 per month only whereas their counterparts in most of the states are getting above Rs 50,000 per month. ‘We want our stipend at par with junior doctors of other states with an annual increment of 10 per cent,’ said Dr Paul.
The junior doctors remained off duty but offered services in the parallel OPD inside the premises. The doctors of different departments including Paediatrics, Gynaecology, ENT, Surgery, Medicine etc examined the patients and even provided medicines to them.
The junior doctors said that they will join the services from 2 pm and continue the half-day strike till Wednesday. “We are looking forward for a positive move from the authorities and will call off the strike. However, the strike will be full time and indefinite if nothing positive comes for us,” threatened Dr Paul.
The other demands of the doctors include setting up of an air conditioned Trauma Centre with adequate number of ward boys and other staff. A separate hostel for women doctors and improvement in duty rooms of doctors with availability of cold water.
The doctors are also demanding at Trauma Centre and wards to limit the number of attendants and to make arrangement for food at subsidized rate for attendants near the hospital. DME to submit a proposal for hike in stipend of junior doctors
The Directorate of Medical Education is preparing a proposal regarding increment in the stipend of the junior doctors in view of the strike. However, the proposal will be based on the comparative stipend given to the junior doctors of adjoining states including Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha only.
Director, Medical Education Pratap Singh said : We had held a meeting with the hospital and medical college authorities on Sunday regarding the proposed strike.’’
Singh said that he had advised the students to give some time and not to go for strike but they ignored his advice. “We are giving stipend which is higher than many states. The comparative figures of stipend taken in reference by the junior doctors is of states like Delhi, Haryana etc and that too of some private hospitals,” said Singh, adding, the Chhattisgarh government cannot afford to give stipend like these states.
“We can bring the stipend near to the stipend offered by the adjoining states only,” said Singh. “I will meet the Health Minister in this regard and submit a proposal for hike in stipend. It will be on discretion of the government to accept the proposal,” added Singh.