Degrading and unacceptable: Apollo Hospitals offers MBBS Doctors Rs 15 per teleconsultation

New Delhi: A teleconsultation job offered by Apollo Hospitals' Remote Health Care wing for an identification-based role has sparked outrage, with doctors calling it 'degrading,' 'unacceptable,' and 'demeaning' to the profession.

The role, meant for MBBS doctors with a valid MCI registration, offers a payment of Rs 15 per completed consultation. Each consultation is expected to last just 2 minutes, with a target of 20 consultations per hour.

However, the document lists a series of deductions that many doctors found shocking, like Rs 125 deduction if a consultation is pending, transferred, completed without interaction, or if an empty prescription is submitted and a 15 deduction if the required PNR protocol is not followed.

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The role requires doctors to use a laptop with power backup, conduct audio consultations, and work at least four hours per shift. The shift starts from 6:40 am to 9 am, 1 pm to 3 pm and 11 pm to 1 am.

What the medical community on the internet found disgraceful and shocking was that, despite completing 5.5 years in the medical field, a doctor is being treated as a labourer. Additionally, netizens pointed out that a street vendor earns more than Rs 15 per session for a doctor. The alleged extremely low pay, high penalties, and unrealistic workload have triggered anger among medical professionals.

Taking the matter on social media, a doctor in a post on 'X' said, "Price of a Vada Pav: ₹20 Price of an MBBS Consultation: ₹15. 5.5 years of struggle just to be valued less than a street snack. And the best part? If you miss a call, you pay them ₹125."

"And see deductions, there are many complicated cases which cannot be done online, they will deduct money if not done online (125₹) per denied or referred. They are not degrading doctors, they are degrading patients by putting value of 15₹ on their life," said another doctor.

"₹15/hr for doctors? Apollo Pharmacy has turned healthcare into cheap labour comedy show absolutely disgusting!!!" said a X user.

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