Kerala Junior Doctors raise concerns over low salaries amid nurses' protests

According to the General Practitioners Association, the typical monthly income for a junior doctor is around Rs. 40,000, though some reportedly receive significantly lower pay. Doctors also point to the heavy financial burden of medical education, with loans in some cases exceeding Rs. 50 lakh. Several practitioners claim their work is being undervalued even as hospitals continue to generate revenue. Many doctors remain in the “junior doctor” category for extended periods, hoping for improved pay while managing demanding work schedules, reports The New Indian Express.

“While nurses are demanding Rs 1,300 a day, a just demand, the reality is there are doctors who earn less than that,” Dr Ashik Basheer, state president of the General Practitioners Association (GPA), said. Salaries of Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 for MBBS doctors are not uncommon, particularly in major cities such as Thiruvananthapuram. “Hospitals recruit newly qualified doctors who are preparing for their post-graduation at very low salaries. This drags down the pay of the entire profession,” he added.

According to The Daily, Dr Basheer further added that other workers often have negotiation power for their demands and legal provisions to give them safety, but doctors lack that. “Doctors do not come under the labour category, so we do not get that protection. The professional classification becomes a double-edged sword,” he explained. Lower salaries do not compensate for the high fee of medical education, which often costs upto Rs 1 crore.

The doctor stated that government jobs are highly sought after by young doctors, with a starting salary of Rs 56,200. However, vacancies are scarce, and competition is intense, with almost 1.15 lakh doctors registered in Kerala, and 6,000 are passing out each year. Many MBBS graduates pursue post-graduation to boost their career prospects and salary, as it's a well-known fact. Unfortunately, even PG doctors are facing reduced pay, with salaries plummeting from Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 75,000, leading to financial strain that can last until their mid-30s.

Dr E K Ramachandran, state treasurer of the Kerala Private Hospital Association (KPHA), said, “An RMO gets Rs 38,000-Rs 50,000, while experienced doctors earn more depending on the cases they handle. Only super-speciality hospitals have better margins. Smaller hospitals struggle, especially after government insurance schemes reduced package rates.” While nurses have staged protests, junior doctors have not yet taken any drastic step on that grand scale. The issue of fair compensation for doctors remains unresolved, with discussions largely limited to internal association meetings, despite their critical role in the healthcare system, reports The Daily.