Take Action on Grievances of Chitradurga Hospital DNB Trainees: NHRC tells District Magistrate

New Delhi: Taking cognisance of the complaints filed by a doctors' body regarding the troubles faced by the DNB trainees at Chitradurga District Hospital, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed asked the District Magistrate to take immediate action in this regard.

Writing to the District Magistrate, Chitradurga, Karnataka, the Assistant Registrar of NHRC, Gautam Kumar mentioned, "The complaint/intimation dated 30/09/2024, received from LAKSHYA MITTAL in respect of DNB TRAINEES AT CHITRADURG DISTRICT HOSPITAL, was placed before the Commission on 28/10/2024. Upon perusing the same, the Commission directed as follows:

This complaint be transmitted to the concerned authority for such action as deemed appropriate. The authority concerned is directed to take appropriate action within 8 weeks associating the complainant/victim and to inform him/her of the action taken in the matter. The case is closed."

Therefore, the District Magistrate of Chitradurga will have to inform the complainant- the President of the United Doctors Front Association (UDFA), Dr. Lakshya Mittal, about the appropriate action taken in this regard within 8 weeks.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) resident doctors at District Hospital, Chitradurga were allegedly facing harassment and threats from the consultants of the hospital.

Also Read: Threats of withholding stipend: DNB Residents in Chitradurga Allege Harassment by consultants, Doctors' body Files RTI

The doctors had alleged that the consultants were threatening to withhold their stipends for declining duties beyond the requirements of the DNB curriculum. UDFA received a complaint from the DNB residents, who alleged that they were being harassed by the consultants to do their Casualty Medical Officer (CMO) duties. Allegedly, when the residents refuse to do so, the consultants threaten to withhold their stipend, not allow the residents in the OTs, and mentally harass and insult them in front of everyone.

Thereafter, raising the issue, UDFA had filed Right to Information (RTI) applications before the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Karnataka Government seeking the details of the posts sanctioned in the hospital, details of the appointment process, list of DNB and Diploma residents currently associated with the concerned hospital, copies of the complaints regarding any problems submitted by DNB and Diploma residents and the action taken report, details of duties allotted to DNB and Diploma residents in the last three months and the copies of the rules etc.

Now that the NHRC has taken cognisance of the issue and directed the DM to take action, Dr. Lakshya Mittal while speaking to Medical Dialogues, said, "As the National President of the United Doctors Front Association (UDFA), I welcome the National Human Rights Commission’s prompt response to our complaint regarding the conditions faced by DNB trainees at Chitradurga District Hospital. This action reinforces the importance of safeguarding the rights and well-being of medical trainees, who often work under challenging circumstances."

"UDFA has consistently advocated for fair treatment and adequate support for healthcare professionals at all levels, particularly those in training, as they are the backbone of our healthcare system. We urge the concerned authorities to take decisive and timely action as per the NHRC’s directions to address these grievances effectively. UDFA will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide necessary support to ensure that such issues are resolved comprehensively, upholding the dignity and rights of our medical trainees," Dr. Mittal added.

Also Read: Overwork, threats of Withholding stipend: DNB Residents in Chitradurga Allege Harassment by consultants, Doctors' body Files RTI