House Surgeons call off strike after DME orders medical colleges to give compulsory internship completion certificate

DME, in its fresh order dated 31.03.2021, has directed the deans of all government and self-financing medical colleges to give course completion certificate to house surgeons following their completion of 12 months training period.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the trainee doctors attached to Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) had boycotted their work on March 31 at 10.00 AM protesting against the Health Department's decision of extending the Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) by two months.

Considering the Covid-19 situation, the authorities had issued a circular stating that the trainee doctors will not be discharged until the next batch joins as trainee doctors after the completion of their final exams.

Also Read:TN: Medicos Oppose Internship Extension; boycott work demanding training completion certificate

As per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, the fresh DME order mentioned, "The deans of government, self-financing medical colleges are informed that, in partial modification of the order issued on March 30, CRRIs who have completed their 12 months of training may be permitted for completion of the course."

"CRRIs who are willing and opting to help during the pandemic crisis may be permitted to continue to work in the hospitals. A stipend will be arranged and a special appreciation certificate will be issued to them," it added.

NIE has added that responding to the offer the TNMSA requested that the house surgeons willing to work during the Covid situation should be paid on par with doctors i.e. Rs 60,000 by the Health Department. Paying stipend to them was an exploitation of their hard work, it said.

Meanwhile, SM Hariganesh, general secretary, TNMSA, has informed the daily that around 900 house surgeons in the State were yet to complete their 12-month training period. Many of them joined the training late as it was delayed by the Covid situation.

Thus, the Health Department officials clarified that the house surgeons who are yet to complete their training period would be retained.