Bihar: Around 95 medical interns performing duties at the COVID ward of AIIMS Patna recently sat on a dharna on the hospital premises demanding stipend hike in view of the current COVID situation. The interns are working as COVID Warriors while pursuing internships in AIIMS Patna after completion of the MBBS courses.
They stated that they have been working since April 2020 without a complaint under adverse circumstances but have never refused to do duty. The interns demanded a significant hike in their stipend. Along with the interns, the resident doctors have also communicated their demands with the AIIMS authorities.
The medicos stated that they are working just like the resident doctors but their stipends are was not satisfactory. They said, "the government should either increase our stipend and or should involve us only in the treatment of the non-COVID patient."
As quoted by
TOI, considering their stipend to be significantly less than what they deserve, the interns further added that "at other places stipend of interns treating COVID patients, has been increased". They are currently getting 23500 rupees per month as an incentive. Hence, due to the extreme risk and work pressure amidst the COVID pandemic, they demanded that their stipend should get doubled.
On this, doctor PK Singh the director of AIIMS Patna clarified that the demand of the interns to increase the stipend is not justified and the authority cannot fulfil it. "It is a national policy and the same stipend is given to interns across the country. It is just not possible to increase the amount", he stated.
Not only the interns but also the resident doctors are also set to demonstrate. The association had previously threatened the authorities to go on an infinite strike. Under the guidance of Resident Doctors' Association, the doctors stated that they are made to work continuously in the front line of the pandemic, yet the Bihar government has deputed 21 senior resident doctors currently working in AIIMS Patna as specialist medical officers due to which the term of three years of senior residency of 21 doctors working there will be incomplete. The Association claimed that many of the senior resident Doctors of various medical colleges of Bihar have been given permission to complete the Residency, hence the Bihar government should seriously consider their demand or they will be forced to go on a strike from August.
However, the hospital administration assured the doctors that their demands will be duly noted and considered by the authorities after which the doctors postponed their action till August 18.
Referring to the process as tedious, the president of RDA Dr. Vinay Kumar told Times Of India that "Also, for senior residency, there is an age cap of 37 years. What about those who have joined at the age of 36? Also, they are allowing senior residents of other MCHs o complete their residency, then why not to us?"
Prabhatkhabar reported that the insurance scheme announced by the Government of Bihar, in which if a health worker dies of corona infection, then his family has been provided with a job or pension should be provided to the doctors of AIIMS Patna as well.
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