Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Abhijith Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Oct 22: Medical interns and post-graduate (PG) doctors serving at government Wenlock hospital, regional advanced pediatric care centre (RAPCC) and Lady Goshen hospital staged protests over non-payment of stipend since March 2018 at Wenlock hospital here on Monday, October 22.
A total of 51 medical interns and 38 post-graduate doctors with meritorious professionals who have qualified through K-CET have been allotted the government seat at KMC Mangaluru through state counseling conducted by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). As many as 89 junior doctors have been deprived of rightful stipend for the past 8 months.
It is learnt that 51 medical interns have to get stipend of Rs 20,000 per month, while post-graduate doctors have to get stipend of Rs 30,000 to 40,000 per month.
Medical intern Dr Nikhil said, “We are denied of stipend for the last 8 months as we are working in a government hospital. When we joined, we were informed that Rs 20,000 stipend will be given to house surgeon per month. Initially for few months we tolerated, but we will no longer work like this because we work more than 70 hours a week and with 12 hours shifts. We put in so much of effort and time for the welfare of the patients, but in return we are not getting anything. We have also planned to hold indefinite strike in November, if we are not paid the stipend,”
Another medical intern Neha said, “We are working in government hospital for the past 8 months and we are denied of stipend. We are working in shifts, throughout the night. We attend night calls, draw blood, do dressing and try to be as passionate as possible in our profession. We have started to lose our morale, motivation due to non-payment of stipend,”
Superintendent of Wenlock Hospital Rajeshwari Devi said, “Medical interns and post-graduate doctors stated about non-payment of stipend for the last 8 months. The representation was forwarded to the deputy commissioner in this regard and it has been moved to the government. Medical interns and post-graduate doctors have met the chief minister, education and health minister in this regard and we will look into this matter and the problem will be resolved at the earliest.”