Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Sept 4: Junior resident doctors of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar have gone on an indefinite strike in all associated hospitals including Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital over what they called pay disparity and have threatened to close down emergency services.
The doctors’ strike has affected patient care in SMHS and other GMC associated hospitals for last few days. The junior medicos’ started their stir after Rs. 5000 from their last month pay were deducted without any prior notice or reason. The issue was, however, settled later with the intervention of GMC Principal Dr Samia Rashid.
However, the junior doctors did not end their strike and demanded an end to ‘disparity’. They said that there is huge difference between the pay of GMC PG doctors and those of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
“The pay of GMC PGs is Rs. 25,000. But, the pay of SKIMS PGs is Rs. 50,000 which is gross injustice with us. This is in violations of Supreme Court and MCI guidelines. We appear in same exam, are on same post but there is huge gap between our pay,” said the agitating doctors.
Due to the strike of GMC PG doctors, the working of Out Patient Department (OPD) and In Patient Department (IPD) in SMHS and other GMC associated hospitals has been severely affected and patients are bearing the brunt.
A senior resident doctor said that near about 400 PG medicos of GMC are on strike and this has affected the patient care. “The PGs everywhere in the world form backbone of tertiary care hospitals and when they go for strike, it results in chaos and breakdown of the system,” he said.
The PG doctors have threatened to suspend services in emergency ward of the SMHS from tomorrow onwards if there demand is not met. “All we demand is a written order issued by Finance Department wherein the issue of our low pay should be addressed. There is huge difference between our pay and the pay of other PGs. The difference is despite of the fact that we are working under tremendous pressure all the time,” the agitating doctors said.
While the junior doctors are adamant on their demand, the Government including Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Dr Abid Rashid have failed to pacify the medicos during their meetings with them in past few days. “We don’t need oral assurances but a written order. As soon as we receive the copy of written order, we will end the strike and return to our work,” the doctors said.
Due to pay anomaly, the GMC doctors have often been at loggerheads with the State administration in the past as well. The difference in pay of GMC PGs and SKIMS PGs has also resulted into shortage of doctors at SMHS – the Kashmir’s primary tertiary care hospital – and directly affected the patient care.
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