State Bureau, Ranchi: Government doctors will now receive a 13-month salary each year, similar to police personnel. Health Minister Banna Gupta gave this assurance during a meeting with the office bearers of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Jharkhand, and Jharkhand Health Services Association (JHASA) on Wednesday. The representatives of IMA and JHASA argued that healthcare services, like police services, are essential and emergency services, so doctors should receive the same benefits.
In the meeting, it was also agreed to exempt hospitals with up to 50 beds from the Clinical Establishment Act, following the model of Uttar Pradesh. Only hospitals with more than 50 beds will be subject to the act. An order regarding this will be issued soon. Health Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh and other officials were also present at the meeting.
There was also an agreement to include representatives from the Indian Medical Association and the Junior Doctors Association in the National Task Force, as per the Supreme Court’s order. Additionally, it was agreed that doctors deputed to the Shravani Mela will receive separate allocations for TA (Travel Allowance) and DA (Daily Allowance). Orders will soon be issued to declare civil surgeons as DDOs (Drawing and Disbursing Officers) in districts like Lohardaga, where they are currently in charge.
In any state/district/subdivision-level committee that is formed, an IMA representative will be included as a member, as was the practice earlier. The meeting also reached an agreement on taking necessary decisions related to the safety of female doctors. The meeting was attended by Campaign Director Abu Imran, Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh, and Vimlesh Singh, among others.
No Action Against Doctors in Sahibganj
During the meeting, the minister directed the Deputy Commissioner of Sahibganj that an order is being issued by the department regarding the death of a child in the hospital. He instructed that the Deputy Development Commissioner be relieved from the post of nodal officer and that no action should be taken against the on-duty doctor.
