West Bengal CM Reveals Salary Increase for State Doctors; Suspensions in Saline Incident Rescinded
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Synopsis
West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a salary increase for government doctors and lifted suspensions for those involved in a negligence case at Midnapore Medical College. Senior doctors will see an increase of Rs 15,000, while junior doctors will receive Rs 10,000 more monthly. The convention faced criticism from junior doctors' groups.
Key Takeaways
- Salary increase for government doctors announced.
- Suspensions for Midnapore Medical College doctors lifted.
- Senior doctors' monthly salary to increase by Rs 15,000.
- Junior doctors' monthly salary to increase by Rs 10,000.
- Doctors can now engage in private practice post duty.
Kolkata, Feb 24 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, made a significant announcement regarding a salary increase for government doctors during a medical convention on Monday.
Simultaneously, the Chief Minister declared the reinstatement of doctors from Midnapore Medical College & Hospital in the West Midnapore district, who had faced suspension a few months prior due to claims of negligence following a woman's death.
Despite the lifting of the suspensions, the Chief Minister emphasized that there had indeed been an occurrence of medical negligence involved.
The decision to suspend these doctors had drawn considerable backlash, as many circumstances suggested that the death was linked to the administration of expired Ringer’s Lactate.
Regarding the pay raise, the Chief Minister announced that senior state government doctors would see an increase of Rs 15,000 in their monthly salary.
In addition, junior doctors, including post-graduate trainees, house-staff, and interns, would receive a hike of Rs 10,000 per month.
This announcement was made during the convention titled ‘Medical Services is Human Service’.
At this event, the Chief Minister also stated that doctors working in various state-run hospitals or medical colleges would be permitted to engage in private practice after completing their eight-hour duty at government health facilities.
However, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), which represents various junior doctors’ associations in the state and led protests following the R.G. Kar rape and murder incident, did not have any representatives present at the convention.
WBJDF members expressed that the convention was merely a façade, as numerous commitments made by the state government regarding healthcare improvements following the R.G. Kar protests remain unfulfilled even after six months.
