Salary cuts leave govt doctors demoralised
The pay cuts are bound to affect doctors’ work, say their associations
Those risking their lives in the battle against coronavirus don’t deserve this treatment, say doctors ’ associations
Doctors in the state health service, medical education department and students doing their residentship have been facing pay cuts ever since the government started tightening the purse strings in the wake of falling revenues due the nationwide lockdown. In some cases, it is as much as 50 per cent. The government had earlier announced similar cuts in the salaries of its employees.
Follow the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic here
The residents employed in the service of BMC hospitals have also got salary cuts.
Jarmansingh Padvi, president of Maharashtra Association of Gazetted Medical Officers in northern Maharashtra said, "I have spent nearly 20 years in the health department and have been working with dedication. For the month of March, I got a 50 per cent pay cut, and I am yet to get April's salary. I get a monthly salary of Rs 1.3 lakh. On one side, we are on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus and on other, we are getting lesser pay. This is unacceptable."
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Padvi said the doctors do not have time to confront the department or the government on the issue.
"With the pandemic getting worse by the day, our touring has increased. The nursing union has taken up the issue more aggressively,'' he said.
Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Manoj Saunik said that all employees of all departments got cuts in salaries from March onwards.
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Rahul Wagh, president ofMaharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) in Mumbai , said that doctors in the city have also got a 30 to 40 per cent pay cut. He said the association had taken up the matter with the Medical Education Director, TP Lahane, who said that he was trying his level best to redress doctors' grievances.
Dr Deepak Baid ofIndian Medical Association said, "We have heard about this. But yet to get complaints from the doctors."
A resident doctor, who works inThane district , said, "I pay a rent of Rs 15,000 per month, and provisions and vegetables have become expensive. I have old parents to look after."
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He said things like salary cuts will certainly demoralise the doctors who are risking their lives by treating Covid-19 patients.
"We have made representations to the government, but everyone there seems to be busy.''
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Another doctor, who works in Raigad and did not want to be named, said that he had to dip into his savings this month to meet the expenses. "This reduction in salaries kills the initiative to work. At the same time, it is not right to strike work in the situation of a pandemic.''
DrAvinash Saknure , president of MARD's Sion unit, said, "Each doctor gets a stipend of Rs 55,000 and the BMC has cut this too on account of tax and under some other heads.''
Doctors in the state health service, medical education department and students doing their residentship have been facing pay cuts ever since the government started tightening the purse strings in the wake of falling revenues due the nationwide lockdown. In some cases, it is as much as 50 per cent. The government had earlier announced similar cuts in the salaries of its employees.
Follow the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic here
The residents employed in the service of BMC hospitals have also got salary cuts.
Jarmansingh Padvi, president of Maharashtra Association of Gazetted Medical Officers in northern Maharashtra said, "I have spent nearly 20 years in the health department and have been working with dedication. For the month of March, I got a 50 per cent pay cut, and I am yet to get April's salary. I get a monthly salary of Rs 1.3 lakh. On one side, we are on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus and on other, we are getting lesser pay. This is unacceptable."
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Padvi said the doctors do not have time to confront the department or the government on the issue.
"With the pandemic getting worse by the day, our touring has increased. The nursing union has taken up the issue more aggressively,'' he said.
Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Manoj Saunik said that all employees of all departments got cuts in salaries from March onwards.
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Rahul Wagh, president of
Dr Deepak Baid of
A resident doctor, who works in
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Currently, there are 825 active patients who are taking treatment and 2,840 people are home quarantined.
He said things like salary cuts will certainly demoralise the doctors who are risking their lives by treating Covid-19 patients.
"We have made representations to the government, but everyone there seems to be busy.''
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Another doctor, who works in Raigad and did not want to be named, said that he had to dip into his savings this month to meet the expenses. "This reduction in salaries kills the initiative to work. At the same time, it is not right to strike work in the situation of a pandemic.''
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