Kerala: 868 rookie doctors quit over salary challenge

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 868 doctors appointed to Covid first-line treatment centres (FLTCs) across the state have tendered their resignation over deductions in their salary.
They were among the 1,080 MBBS graduates who passed out of government medical colleges this year and appointed on Covid duty on a temporary basis. While they were promised Rs 42,000 a month, what each finally gets is Rs 27,000.
“From the total, Rs 8,400 was deducted in the name of the government’s salary challenge, apart from TDS and professional tax. Now, we are getting only Rs 27,000. This is being done only to us. Doctors appointed for Covid duty on temporary basis under National Health Mission are being given full salary,” said Dr Ousam Hussain K P, state president of Kerala junior doctors’ association 2020-21.
In the resignation letter, the doctors said they will not be available for service after September 10. The appointment was for a period of three months and a few who joined in May have completed this tenure. “The government is likely to extend the service of these doctors since there is huge demand for healthcare workers, particularly with the caseload increasing in the state. However, we are being forced to resign since the government is not ready to listen to our grievances. We have decided not to work after September 10 if our grievances are not settled,” said Dr Hussain.
The association has fired letters to the chief minister and health minister seeking their urgent intervention. “The government in its order had made it clear that salaries of doctors appointed under NHM should not be cut in the name of salary challenge. We were also appointed as temporary medical officers for Covid duty, but there is a different set of rules for us,” said Dr Krishnapriya T S, general secretary of the association.
Even though these doctors were appointed in May and June, they started getting their salaries only in August, after they decided to approach the high court. “We had given several representations against the salary cuts to the concerned authorities. But there has been no response, which has forced us to take this extreme decision,” said Dr Hussain.