TN Govt Doctors demand Rs 1 crore relief for doctors who died of COVID, Threaten to go on protest on January 19

Chennai: The legal coordination committee for government doctors in Tamil Nadu recently presented their demands to the state health minister Ma Subramanian on Friday demanding pay-hike and Covid relief.

They stated that the government should increase the compensation amount paid to doctors who died of Covid from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. They added that they would organize a protest on January 19 if their demands are not met by next week, reports DT next.

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According to the media report in DT next, Dr S Perumal Pillai, president of the Legal Coordination Committee for government doctors said, "We lost nine doctors of our medical brethren during the pandemic, however, the government assured Rs 50 lakh as well as government job for a family member commiserating their qualification are still not granted to those families. So, we urge the State government to provide monthly salaries to their families till the period of superannuation. Also, to increase the amount from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore."

The association demanded 20 to 30 per cent additional teaching faculties since the number of students is increasing in government medical colleges. In August, 2019, the strength of MBBS students increased from 150 to 250 in the Physiology department at Madurai Medical College.

Dr. Pillai observed, "But the faculties reduced from 11 – 5 after a few months in the same year. According to National Medical Commission norms for 250 students at least 9 tutors should be there, but till date, only five teaching faculties are there."

They added that two years of rural service (DPH/DMS) is must for all promotions, and the ones who were promoted without it should be posted accordingly. They have also expressed their long pending demand on pay-hikes which was not taken up by the state government.

Dr Syed Thahir Hussain, Secretary, Legal coordination Committee for Government Doctors said, "We have presented the demands to the state Health Minister and Health Secretary on Friday if it not addressed by next week. We have decided to go for agitations in order to attract the attention of our Chief Minister, for that we are planning to go on strike on January 19 and hunger strike on February 10 in Chennai."

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