Medical teachers reject pay package

[sajiv]

Medical teachers reject pay package

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) has rejected the new pay package for doctors in Medical Education Service announced by the government on Wednesday. The KGMCTA's main objection is to the patient care allowance that the government has fixed at 15 per cent of the basic pay.

It had asked for the allowance to be in the range of Rs.5,000 to Rs.15,000 across various cadres.

The government has also not specified the percentage of Dearness Allowance, out-going president of KGMCTA A. Sarat Kumar said.

There has also been no discussion with the KGMCTA regarding the extended working hours from 8 a.m. up to 4 p.m., he added.

The reduction in patient care allowance will also substantially reduce the pay package at the entry cadre and hence, as long as the government does not enhance the patient care allowance and announce a better package, the KGMCTA will continue the strike, he said.

Meanwhile, in another development, a group in KGMCTA which had been vehemently opposing the ban on private practice by doctors, has emerged victorious in the organisation's election to the posts of office-bearers held on Wednesday.

In a fiercely contested election, Dr. Sarat Kumar, who had been advocating a ban on private practice if the government announced a pay package on a par with Central institutes, was defeated by two votes.

The government thus faces a very tough situation ahead as the new faction might oppose the ban on private practice tooth and nail.