Hospitals cut our salary because we protested for NEET PG , alleged Delhi medicos

Delhi: Despite being assured that no salary deductions will be initiated against the medicos participating in the protest against NEET PG counselling, the doctors at Delhi government's Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital and Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) claimed that the salaries have been cut for many doctors who took part in the protests.

The resident doctors across various hospitals in the national capital went on strike opposing the delay in NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) and called off protests after one-month long agitation. Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) and its associated GTB Hospital claimed that the salaries of doctors who participated in the protests in November and December last year were deducted this month and authorities marked many of them as absent during the period of protest.

Dr Aditya S, president of UCMS and GTB hospital RDA told Medical Dialogues that there are almost 30 senior residents and over 50 junior residents have been adversely impacted by this pay cut. He also informed that they have written letters to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and health minister Satyendar Jain requesting their intervention in the matter so that salary cuts can be reversed.

Pointing out that the medicos stood united and backed the protest for the welfare of all patients as well as resident doctors and braved various ethical/moral challenges apart from physical/mental assault, the association mentioned in the letter written to the CM, " The joint struggle of Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA), RDAs of nation and multiple national/state medical bodies (including Indian Medical Association & Delhi Medical Association) yielded success. Post the verdict given by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in this regard, the Medical Counseling Committee has scheduled the NEET PG counselling 2021 from 12th January, 2022."

It was further stated that Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, The Hon'ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, The Government of India chaired a meeting with the representatives of FORDA and RDAs of medical colleges of Delhi on 28th December, 2021 in view of the nationwide protest by resident doctors. While assuring 100% commitment of the concerned ministry towards rightly placed concerns of resident doctors across the nation and taking all necessary steps on their part to help in expediting the process of NEET PG counselling 2021, two more points were also promised and assured by the chair in the meeting' -

First, no attendance cut and salary or stipend deduction and/or termination from job (regular/ad-hoc)/repeat posting would be inflicted upon any resident/intern doctor for/due to any duration of participation in the protest. Secondly, no legal/economic/non-economic/punitive and/or academically impairing action would be taken directly/indirectly against any resident/intern doctor on account of participation in this protest.

However, the association mentioned that these points were not maintained by GTB and IHBAS and a salary cut has been initiated. The doctors' body also pointed out even in many medical colleges of Delhi like VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, LHMC, ABVIMS & RML Hospital, in adherence to the words of the hon'ble Union Health Minister, have not inflicted attendance cut or salary/stipend deduction upon any of their resident(ad-hoc/regular)/intern doctors on account of participation in this protest.

" The RDA, UCMS & GTB hospital requests for intervention by your august chair in this regard to safeguard the interests/welfare of the resident/intern doctors and hopes that this issue of loss of attendance and salary/stipend deduction of the resident (ad-hoc/regular)/intern doctors of UCMS & GTB Hospital inflicted for the period of protest that was for the righteous cause of augmenting workforce of our healthcare system, would find an urgent note in your busy schedule", added the letter.

Dr Aditya stated, " Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya had assured the doctors that no punitive action will be initiated against doctors who took part in the protests to expedite NEET-PG counselling and we agreed to call off the protest. However, now many of the doctors are facing salary cuts which are in no way justified. Our talks with UCMS authorities have been quite effective as they promised to approach the higher authorities regarding the matter and full cooperation. However, we received no such cooperation from the GTB authorities."

The RDA of IBHAS also posted on social media stating, " Attendance & Salary of residents deducted for period of protest! We stood for the cause, with the nation. Despite multiple assurances from various authorities regarding no punitive action, salaries of IHBAS Residents is deducted. When other institutes haven't." Standing in solidarity with the protesting resident doctors' associations (RDAs), FORDA also stated, " We strongly condemn the salary deduction of resident doctors by GTB Hospital and IHBAS for participating in the protests to expedite NEET-PG counselling. We request Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain to intervene in the matter urgently."