Date:02/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/02/stories/2008070258150400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bouquets and brickbats on Doctors’ Day

Staff Reporter

Health Minister promises higher pay for doctors in government hospitals

Services of contract doctors to be regularised
More health schemes for the poor, farmers soon

Bangalore: It was bouquets and brickbats for medical professionals in Bangalore on the occasion of Doctors’ Day.

If doctors at K.C. General Hospital got reprimanded for improper maintenance of the hospital, doctors working on contract in government hospitals in rural areas were promised higher pay and regularisation of services.

Health Minister B. Sriramulu, who inaugurated the Doctors’ Day celebrations organised by the Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association at the Arogya Bhavan on Magadi Road here on Tuesday, promised to enhance doctors’ salaries and also regularise the services of contract doctors who had completed three years of service.

Addressing the doctors, the Minister said he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and get the demands fulfilled. “At the same time, you all should ensure that your services are available to the people at all times. Yours is a noble profession, and I want you to keep to its traditions.”

He said the Government was committed towards the wellness and good health of the people of the State, especially farmers. “We will soon announce more health welfare schemes for farmers and the poorer section of society,” he said.

Earlier, president of the association T.B. Satyanarayana presented a memorandum to the Minister listing the demands of the doctors. He pointed out that there was a huge difference between the salaries of doctors posted in rural areas and in medical colleges.

Anomalies

“While a general duty medical officer in a government hospital gets Rs. 18,299, a tutor with similar qualification and experience in a medical college gets Rs. 32,353. While the Additional Director (the highest post in a hospital) gets Rs. 31,845, the Head of the Department (his counterpart in a college) draws Rs. 75,224,” Dr. Satyanarayana pointed out.

He said this pay disparity was preventing doctors from taking up government service and working in rural areas.

Officials from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, including Principal Secretary M. Madan Gopal, Commissioner P.N. Srinivasachary and Director Usha Vasunkar and association general secretary D. Ravishankar were present.