Unreasonable promises are electoral issues for the government. The doctors

Unqualified promises have disappointed hundreds of government doctors. After being at the center of COVID-19 care for a year, many government doctors feel that the government’s unfinished assurances, including long-pending salary increases and promotions, will be the main issues for them in the assembly elections.

Over the years, government doctors staged a series of protests, including a seven-day strike by members of the Federation of Government Doctors Association (FOGDA) in October 2019. – Pending issues. At the time of the onset of the epidemic in March 2020, these demands were not met, assuring COVID-19 duty to healthcare providers / workers at one month special pay. Later, the government announced ₹ 2 lakh in ghosts for those who contracted the transition. Both promises are yet to reach them.

“Given the COVID-19 crisis, the government should have fulfilled its assurances. Government doctors manage 90% of COVID-19 patients at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, ”FOGDA convenor A. Ramalingam said.

Government doctors have long been demanding the implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progressive (DACP), as done in Government Order 354. In its current form, the scheme means promotions of 15, 17 and 20 years instead of four, nine and 13 years. As central government doctors. A review of the government order that will guarantee them remuneration and promotion is pending since 2017. “We are demanding basic pay at a par with central government doctors. We start with a base salary of 100 56,100, but as the years progress, the gap widens. Central government doctors reach the final pay band-4 for 12 years, but we deliver it in 20 years. A government doctor said, “We are seeking a time-bound promotion with them at par.”

That is why many of them have been arguing that Tamil Nadu government doctors are among the lowest paid in the country.

President of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA). Senthil said that instead of meeting his demand for compression of pay band-4, the Health Department offered allowances, and the order was pending from the Election Commission. “Some incomplete promises were a month’s special salary for doctors and the ₹ 2 lakh for those contracting the infection. Government doctors were certainly entitled to salaries, and many were disappointed with the demand not being met. It should be noted that the government accepted our suggestions to provide accommodation and food to doctors on COVID-19 duty, ”he said.

Another physician noted that the government’s high-stakes view of the “conviction transfer” of the doctors who led the strike was disappointing.

One of the important issues was 50% reservation for in-service candidates. Doctors who have completed MBBS and work in Primary Health Centers will get 50% reservation in MS / MD seats allotted to the state government. Similarly, doctors with MS / MD degree who are in government service for two years will get 50% reservation in super-specialty courses – DM and MCH.

“Even after clearing the legal barrier to the implementation of a 50% service quota, the government did not go for a special ordinance,” another doctor said. Doctors said that this would have a huge impact on public health due to lack of qualified specialists.

Apart from increasing the number of posts for doctors as per case-load in medical colleges and government hospitals, there are other pending demands for conducting transparent counseling for posting, transfer and promotions.