ALAPPUZHA: The Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) office bearers have said that the pay revision of doctors in Government service implemented by the State Government in March this year, as per the recommendations of the State Pay Revision Commission, was humiliating. They alleged that their salaries were decreased as a result of the revision.

They added that at the same time, salaries of around 50 categories of workers under the State Government increased after the revision.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, association district president C. Muraleedharan Pillai and secretary V. Rajeevan said the total salary of assistant surgeons in the State Government Service, which was Rs.12,764 before the revision was only Rs.12,505 now. That meant a reduction of Rs. 259 in salary after the pay revision, noted Dr. Pillai.

Dr. Pillai noted that all sections of State Government employees gained at least Rs.500. He said the KGMOA has been in a non-cooperation strike from April 17 onwards to highlight the plight of doctors in Government hospitals.

While doctors were continuing to discharge their duties in in-patient and out-patient sections of hospitals, they were refraining from extra duties said Dr. Rajeevan. He pointed out that, at present, there were around 500 vacancies of doctors in the Government service. "The revision of salary would make it difficult to attract young doctors to Government service," he said. He pointed out that many of the young doctors were reluctant to join Government service as the Government hospitals in the State lacked basic facilities.

Doctors were often held responsible for the difficulties faced by patients in Government hospitals due to lack of facilities, noted Dr. Rajeev. Coupled with that, the discriminatory treatment being meted out would keep young doctors away, he opined.

The KGMOA former State president K.N. Prasad said the association had brought the grievances before the leaders of the ruling and Opposition Fronts but no solution had been found. He urged the Government to take necessary action, as the problem would have an impact on the functioning of hospitals in the State.

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