JOIN USAround 2,600 protesting doctors of the Department of Health and Family Welfare across the State withdrew their resignation on Wednesday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met them and conceded most of their demands, including regularisation of contract doctors after three years.
The doctors had struck work and submitted their resignation on Monday but the government had not accepted them. On Tuesday, the striking doctors resumed work after they were assured that the chief minister would interact with them.
After the meeting with doctors, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said the government had agreed to fulfil majority of their demands, barring one or two that posed technical hurdles.
The decision to regularise services of contract doctors is expected to benefit about 250 of them. Karnataka State Government Medical Officers' Association led the protest and had raised 14 demands.
The association had sought a hike in the salaries of contract doctors and additional allowances. The government, however, turned down the demand for additional allowances.
The government has also agreed to fill all vacant posts of doctors. Out of 6000 doctors' posts, only 4500 doctors had been appointed, according to Health Department officials. Around 87 posts of dentists would also be filled.
A duties and responsibilities manual would be brought out, they added. “The vacant posts have not been filled for the past ten years by previous governments; hence, the problem,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister has directed the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department to release the salaries of doctors in hospitals under the Zilla Panchayats in the first week of every month.
On pay parity between employees of Medical Education Department and Health and Family Welfare Department, the government has decided to study the model in other states, officials said.
Medical Officers’ Association President T A Veerabhadraiah expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to patients during their strike.