Medical officers went on strike demanding salary hike

Surat: Around 73 medical officers (MO) working on contract basis at the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER) hospital went on flash strike on Thursday morning demanding pay hike at par with state government’s recent announcement for newly appointed contractual doctors.
The doctors resumed duty in the afternoon after they were assured of consideration of their demands by senior officers of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The MOs at SMC-run SMIMER are currently getting Rs 60,000 per month salary. These MOs have been working with SMIMER since last one year on contract. As per state government’s recent announcement MOs recruited in government hospitals will get Rs 1.25 lakh salary.
“We are demanding that we should get the salary as per government’s salary structure for MOs in government hospitals. Freshers will be getting higher salaries than those who are working since last one year,” said one of the protesting MOs.
“We have submitted an application to SMC officials on Wednesday and informed them about our demands in the past as well. But they did not do anything hence we had to go on strike,” said an MO. “We are also not being allowed to apply again and terminating our existing contract. In New Civil Hospital MOs will get Rs 1.25 lakh salary,” he added.
“SMC will consider the demand and take necessary steps. But going on strike is not the option and we have asked the doctors to continue working,” said a senior health department official in SMC.