Around 1500 Ayush doctors working in hospitals across the State have decided to launch an agitation for the apathetic attitude of State Government towards their demands. Educated and trained at par with MBBS doctors, Ayush doctors are struggling for last six years for confirmation of their contractual jobs.
According to Jyoti Ranjan Gahan, the president of All Odisha Ayush Doctors Association, these doctors are not only discharging their own duties but also attending outdoor and indoor patients and performing delivery of pregnant women. They are also involved in other health related activities at community and primary health centres due to lack of adequate MBBS doctors.
He further said the salary paid to them is too meagre compared to other States where their minimum monthly salary is ` 30,000. Gahan also regretted that while the Government has launched recruitment drive for MBBS doctors, no such step has been taken in case of Ayush doctors despite huge vacancies. The Ayush doctors, who have already worked for more than six years, are still awaiting regularisation of their jobs.
When there was no response from the Government after repeated pleas, a delegation of Ayush doctors recently met the Health Minister and Secretary. Since they also did not respond favourably, they decided to go to the streets.
They have appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter and regularise their jobs with minimum salary of ` 30,000 per month as per the guidelines of National Rural Health Mission.