Odisha: Ayurveda, Homeopathic practitioners demand parity in pay at par with Allopathy doctors

Puri: Odisha state Ayurveda medical college teachers association and state government homeopath teachers associations have demanded parity in pay and service conditions at par with Allopathic medical colleges

The state government should treat all Ayurveda and Homeopathy doctors of all government medical colleges at par with allopathy doctors, Ayurveda medical college teachers association Secretary Adikanda Biswal and homeopath teachers association Secretary Diptikant Singh said.

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The superannuation of Ayurveda and Homeopathy medical colleges teachers, they further said be extended to 65 years besides other promotional and retirement benefits.

Biswal and Singh said many Ayurveda and Homeopath doctors opt to serve in other states due to disparity in pay and promotion.

The Association leaders also demanded Junior Class -1 status for Ayurveda and Homeopathy medical teachers.

They said while 124 doctors are working in three government Ayurveda colleges as many as 146 professors, readers and teachers are working in four government homeopathic medical colleges in the state.

They were appointed by the state government after qualifying the OPSC exams.

The Association leaders said the Odisha high court has also directed the state government to treat Ayurveda and Homeopathic doctors of all government medical colleges at par with Allopathy doctors and urged the government to implement the High Court order.

The directorate of Ayush in July last year had also written to the state health and family welfare department to bring parity in salary, service conditions and retirement benefits with allopathic doctors at the earliest.

The state has to bear additional Rs.1.24 crores per annum if the government implemented the order of the High Court and the recommendations of the Ayush Directorate, Dr Biswal said.

They said Chief minister Naveen Patnaik is well aware of their service during the pandemic and hoped that he will address their grievance at the earliest.

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