Karnataka doctors issue strike ultimatum over pending seniority, promotion issues

Bengaluru: Citing the long-pending seniority list, stalled promotions, cancellation of higher education funding, shifting of OBG doctors from CHCs, restrictions on private practice, and irregular medicine supply, government doctors in Karnataka have warned that they will go on strike if their long-pending demands are not addressed within 21 days.

Writing to the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Karnataka Medical Officers’ Association said these issues have remained unresolved for years despite repeated representations, and urged the government to take immediate steps to resolve the issues.

The association pointed out that, as per government rules, the seniority list of officers and doctors working in the department must be prepared every December. However, the association claimed that such a list has not been prepared for over 13 years despite multiple requests to the officials concerned.

Due to this delay, many eligible doctors have not received promotions, and some have even retired without being promoted, according to the association.

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As per Deccan Herald news report, the association also expressed dissatisfaction over recent government orders, including those related to the cancellation of funding for higher education for doctors working under the Health Department, removal of obstetrics and gynaecology doctors from Community Health Centres (CHCs), and objections raised against doctors doing private in-patient practice.

According to the association, doctors working under the ESI and Medical Education Departments are still allowed to pursue higher studies with full financial support. However, this facility has been withdrawn this year for doctors in the Health Department, causing resentment among them.

The association also raised concerns about the government’s move to replace gynaecologists from smaller hospitals where there were fewer deliveries to reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). The association said that this would put pregnant women from rural areas in distress, which would, in fact, increase the MMR.

The association also complained about an absence of uninterrupted medicine supplies from the government and noted that despite requests, the issue has not been addressed, leading to the suffering of patients.

With the 21-day deadline now in place, the association has made it clear that if the government fails to respond positively, government medical officers across the state may resort to a strike.

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