BHOPAL : Government doctors posted in hospitals have asked the government to either allow private practice or grant 50% of salary as non-practising allowance. The doctors will take out a protest rally from Gandhi Medical College (GMC) on Sunday in support of their demand.
As per government rule, private practice is banned for a doctor posted in government hospital. However, those attached to the health department are allowed to do so but after duty hours.
Talking to reporters, Madhya Pradesh Medical Officers on Saturday claimed that 7,000 out of the sanctioned 15,000 posts of medical experts were lying vacant in the state.
Association’s president Dr Devendra Goswami said, “There is acute manpower crisis in government health sector. Doctors are excellent but infrastructure is not up to the mark. Hence, doctors are helpless. Government must ensure better medical facilities or else private players will continue to take advantage.”
He said, “Qualified doctors are not getting timely promotion. Doctors, who passed out between 2004 and 2014, have not been given timely increment. As a result, new doctors are not interested in joining government sector. They are turning to private hospitals and nursing homes owing to high salary on offer.”
Medical officers said, “ In 2008, government announced four-tier time scale payment. However, the order was withdrawn in 2012. Since then the government has been recovering the amount paid to the doctors as per 2008 decision. After a few doctors challenged the recovery decision, the High Court prohibited the government from issuing any such order. This has created a sense of insecurity among government doctors.”
Despite the High Court order dated December 20, 2017, government has not issued any instruction or order for its implementation. The High Court had objected to recovery from doctors, said the association president adding, “Government is recovering the amount at the rate of 12% interest which is highly objectionable.”