MP Doctors' Federation threatens agitation from February 20 over pending demands
Bhopal: The Doctors' Federation of Madhya Pradesh, representing over 14,000 doctors and junior doctors from various state departments, is planning to launch an agitation starting 20th February due to the prolonged neglect of their key demands. The association has recently raised the demand to form a higher-order committee to address issues faced by medical professionals.
The Federation, which includes medical professionals from the Public Health and Medical Education Department, Labor Department, Home Department, and Gas Relief Department, has expressed dissatisfaction due to the lack of decisive action from departmental officials. Recently, the Doctors’ Federation met with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to discuss their long-pending demands.
To address these concerns, the Federation has called for the immediate formation of a high-level committee, including both government officials and representatives from the Federation. This committee would be tasked with resolving the long-pending grievances of doctors in a time-bound manner. The demand aligns with a decision by the Hon'ble High Court, Jabalpur, in Writ Petition No. 24266/2024, issued on December 4, 2024, which also stressed the need for such a committee. A similar committee had been constituted earlier but has since become inactive.
Another major demand is the swift implementation of the Time Scale / Selection Pay Scale (DACP equivalent) scheme. The Federation insists that eligible doctors working in state-run departments should receive the benefits of this scheme within a month. Additionally, they have urged the government to implement the 7th Pay Commission benefits for medical teachers in state-run medical colleges, effective from January 1, 2016, and to include the Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) while determining basic salaries.
The Federation has also strongly opposed excessive administrative interference in highly technical medical fields, stating that such interference has negatively impacted patient care. They emphasized that Madhya Pradesh has consistently ranked low in national health indices, such as infant mortality and maternal mortality rates, due to bureaucratic inefficiencies. To enhance healthcare services, they have proposed the creation of Director General Public Health (DGPH) and Director General Medical Education (DGME) positions, with appointments based on seniority and expertise. Additionally, they have urged that senior medical professionals be placed in key administrative roles, such as Deans and Directors, to ensure effective governance of the healthcare sector.
Security concerns were also highlighted, with the Federation demanding the immediate implementation of the National Task Force recommendations, issued under Supreme Court directions, to provide a safer and more supportive work environment for doctors and junior doctors. The Federation has urged the government to act swiftly on these matters and issue necessary directives for their resolution.
