Gujarat Hikes Honorarium: Rs 4,200 for Visiting Specialists, Rs 8,500 for Super-Specialists

Ahmedabad: In a big move to improve healthcare services across the state, the Gujarat government has increased the honorarium for private visiting specialists and super-specialist doctors serving at the district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and community health centres under the Chief Minister’s Setu Scheme. 

As per the new revised pay scale, visiting doctors across various categories will now receive higher daily or monthly payments for their services in government hospitals. 

Now, non-surgical super-specialists and surgical super-specialists will be paid equally of Rs 8,500 per day for at least three hours of mandatory service at government hospitals. Similarly, all categories of private visiting specialist doctors will now be paid Rs 4,200 per day for three hours of service. 

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The revised pay structure is expected to encourage more specialists to work in government hospitals and improve access to quality healthcare for patients, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Previously, paediatricians and general physicians were given an honorarium of Rs 3,000 per day, and an amount of Rs 2,000 per day was allotted for other specialist doctors. However, they will now be paid a uniform pay of Rs 4,200 per day. 

Changes have also been made in the payment structure for super-specialist doctors working in hospitals affiliated to government medical colleges, and Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS)-run medical colleges of the state, as reported by Ahmedabad Mirror. Previously, non-surgical super-specialists received Rs 8,500 per day, whereas surgical super-specialists were paid only Rs 2,700. Now, under the revised policy, both categories will uniformly receive Rs 8,500 per day for at least three hours of service. 

Health Minister Rushikesh Patel made the announcement during a state cabinet meeting held yesterday, which was chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Alongside this, the state has also increased the financial powers of medical officers and purchase committees at the levels of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to medical colleges.

Under the revised rules, Medical Officers of PHCs and DTTs can now approve purchases up to Rs 50,000. CHCs can spend up to Rs 1 lakh, an increase from the earlier Rs 20,000 limit. District and sub-district hospitals (DH/SDH) can now approve expenses up to Rs 2 lakh, compared to the previous Rs 25,000 limit. Medical colleges have been allowed to spend up to Rs 5 lakh, up from Rs 2 lakh. These expenses cover essential items like medicines, lab kits, x-ray materials, medical equipment, and emergency medical needs. 

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