HYDERABAD: Doctors at the Gandhi Hospital will soon stage novel protests - having lunch on the roadside and flashing placards on footpaths - but only for half-an-hour a day during the lunch hour to highlight their demands.
The government doctors have been demanding salaries as per the UGC pay scales and intend to draw the attention of the State government through their novel protests. Their decision comes in the wake of Health Minister C Laxma Reddy’s announcement Sunday that the government was contemplating incentives to government doctors, including those who work in rural and agency areas.
Apparently dissatisfied with the ‘vague’ assurance, the association of Gandhi Hospital doctors have decided to put forward their protest proposals at their general body meeting this week. On Saturday, they took their demands to the notice of principal secretary of Health and Family Welfare department, Suresh Chanda, when he visited the hospital.
“Now, we are paid only basic pay, House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Dearness Allowance (DA). According to UGC pay scales, risk, transport and patient-care allowances should also be paid to us. Career advancement scheme should be implemented. We will hold the protest only during lunch hour, after our duties. Patients will not be put to inconvenience with this,” said Dr D Ramesh, general secretary of the Telangana Government Doctors’ Association-Gandhi Unit.
Stating that the UGC pay scales have not been implemented for the past nine years, he said they often stretch work hours beyond 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “But we don’t have any objections to do so, if the pay scale is implemented, and basic infrastructure provided,” Dr Ramesh said.
Docs’ Wishlist
Salaries as per UGC pay scales
Risk, transport and patient-care allowances must be paid
Career advancement scheme should be implemented