The Hindu : Front Page : Government doctors call off strike

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Thursday, Sep 14, 2006
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Government doctors call off strike

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The four-month-old protest by Government doctors in the State was called off on Wednesday night following an agreement reached between Minister for Health P.K. Sreemathy and representatives of the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA).

Under the agreement, two advance increments will be sanctioned in the entry cadre scale of assistant surgeons (Rs. 11,910-Rs. 19.350).

A doctor who enters the service will get a minimum salary of Rs. 15,000, the Minister told mediapersons here on Wednesday night after the two-day talks with representatives of the KGMOA.

It had also been decided to increase the allowances recommended for the doctors by the Pay Commission. Rules would also be liberalised for postgraduate allowance.

The Government also agreed to the long-pending demand of the Government doctors to set up specialty and administrative cadres.

This would be implemented before April 2007. The Health Minister said a working group with a representative of the KGMOA would be set up to discuss and frame rules in this regard.

The Government would come up with legislation to ensure postgraduate admission in the service quota.

Replying to queries, Ms. Sreemathy said the Government would not be able to come up with legislation in the coming session of the Assembly from next week. "We will come up with legislation to ensure admission after discussing it with experts." KGMOA president Sunny Orathel, who was present along with secretary Juneed Rehman and others, said they were withdrawing the strike following the agreement and the assurances given by the Government and in view of the spread of epidemics in various parts of the State.

Dr. Orathel said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac and the Health Minister had assured them that their demands would be looked into within the financial constraints of the Government.

He said the decision to create specialty and administrative cadres was a big achievement.

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