Doctors do not want to go on a strike as it would disrupt medical services, but say if there is no response, this will be their last resort
The matter will be taken seriously, and necessary compensation will be given at the earliest, said Health Minister Prakashrao Abitkar. Representational pic
Frustrated with unequal pay against much extra work compared to MBBS doctors at the civic hospitals, the Ayush doctors at the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray (HBT) Aapla Dawakhana have written to Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis demanding “equal pay for equal work.”
“The advertisement was posted on January 16, 2023. It has been two years since we have been working on the same salary of Rs 42,000. The MBBS doctors, for the same or less work, are paid Rs 80,000. Also, we are appointed on a six-month contract, whereas they (MBBS doctors) get permanent positions after completing a three-year probation period,” said Dr Dhananjay Shivaji More, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Assistant Medical Officer, Nemani Urban Health Post, P-North Ward.
In 2023, the Ayush doctors appointed by BMC stood at 138.
Cheated with designation
“While the salary difference is the major issue, we have also been cheated. The advertisement released in January 2023 mentioned that the recruitment is for the post of medical officer at the HBT Aapla Davakhana established in the 24 wards. However, the merit list was neither put up on the official website of MCGM nor displayed on the board in their office,” Dr Mehul Kanade, Shastri Nagar Health Post-1, BMC G/North Ward.
“All of us received an email about the selection, and we were asked to collect our appointment letters from the office. And when we saw our letters, it was mentioned as assistant medical officers, and our postings were at the Urban Public Health Centres instead of HBT Aapla Dawakhana. That time we did not say anything, considering that services must be provided. But we had no idea what we were getting into. Apart from attending to patients, there is a lot of administrative work that we have to do,” Dr Kanade said.
If the doctors would have been appointed as per the details mentioned in the advertisement, they would have had to work either in the morning shift (7 am-3 pm) or evening shift (3 pm-10 pm) and only attend to OPD patients restricted to just one dawakhana. However, at present, each assistant medical officer is responsible for nearly 80,000 patients in addition to the administrative work, Dr Kanade explained.
Juniors getting paid more
“The advertisement for the post of Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) was out last year. These ANMs, who are junior to us, are paid R48,000 per month, even when they are responsible for just 10,000 patients per ANM. Also, the ANMs have a three-year probation, after which they are transferred to permanent posts, just like they do for the MBBS doctors appointed by the BMC,” said Dr Aniket Londhe, Tadwadi Health Post, BMC E Ward.
“Just because we are BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) doctors and not MBBS doctors, we are paid less,” he added.
Unjust contracts
As per the National Health Mission rules, which are applicable to the Ayush doctors as well, the contracts of Ayush doctors are supposed to be of 11 months; however, the BMC has appointed these doctors on a contract of six months. Also, there is a difference in the number of contract months and salaries of various corporations. “In Ulhasnagar Corporation, the contract period is 11 months, and they are paid Rs 55,000. In Thane, though they are paid Rs 40,000, their contract period is 11 months. However, in BMC limits, the contract is for six months, and the salary is Rs 42,000,” informed More.
What’s the matter now?
The BMC recently issued a circular stating that the contracts of these Ayush doctors, which were supposed to be exhausted in March this year, are extended until June.
“However, they are planning to release another advertisement after June for the same post. And we will again have to apply for the same. We have been serving for the betterment of patients over the last five years. Why are we competing again for the same post?” questioned More.
Authorities speak
“They have met me, and I assure that there won’t be injustice. The matter will be taken seriously, and necessary compensation will be given at the earliest. We will discuss releasing the new advertisement and how to retain the existing Ayush doctors,” said Maharashtra Health Minister Prakshrao Abitkar. The BMC officials were available for a comment despite mid-day’s repeated calls.
Ayush doctors’ demands
• Increase in salaries. At least as much as BMC’s MBBS doctors
• Retainer at their current postings instead of re-applying
• Increase in contract tenure as per National Health Mission
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