Resident docs to govt: raise pay or face strike

Medical services in 21 hospitals across the city are likely to be affected if the resident doctors stay off work.

Representatives from all medical colleges in the Capital were at the Health Ministry till late Wednesday evening, discussing possible solutions to avoid the strike. The decision to notify authorities about the strike was taken unanimously by the resident doctors, who were promised a salary hike in October,” Dr Kumar Harsh, member of the Resident Doctors’ Association at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said.

“Their (government’s) carelessness is shocking,” Dr Harsh said. “The Union Health Ministry simply forgot to send a notification for revision of salary. The Pay Commission has specifically mentioned the recommendation for resident doctors but the ministry is sitting on it.

“Except for Delhi, all other states have implemented the Commission’s recommendations.”

The government does not have any idea about the packages that are due to resident doctors, a doctor from Lok Nayak Hospital said.

“While all other doctors get non-practicing allowance, resident doctors in Delhi are not given that allowance. We are also not allowed to work privately,” Dr Kuldeep of LN Hospital said. “Certain issues have still not been clarified but the government has given the order to increase our salaries as per recommendations of the Pay Commission.”