22 junior doctors resign in MEKAHARA

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, 22 junior doctors of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Medical College Hospital in Raipur, the biggest government hospital in Chhattisgarh, have resigned. Money seems to be a major issue.

Dr Bhagwati Verma, the Junior Doctors Association President, said: “These doctors have cleared their MBBS examination and completed the internship and were deputed keeping in view the COVID-19. They had been working for the last two months and have not been given any stipend.”

He added: “The unfortunate part is that generally such doctors are deputed through bonds but this time no bond system was put in place. They were asked to join and even the amount of stipend has not been fixed.”

“The post-graduate doctors in the hospital have also not been paid for two months."

The junior doctors had raised the issue of lack of         personal safety kits at the corona wards.

Dr Vishnu Dutt, Dean of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Raipur, said: “All these junior doctors are going for post-graduation and they have been appointed on bond keeping in view the present Covid-19 crisis. They have been deputed at different parts of the state but were asked to serve at the Medical College Hospital at present.”

“They are bound to work for the government irrespective of their place of posting. Some had cited personal reasons for the resignation,” he said.

Dr BR Ambedkar Medical College PRO Subra Singh Thakur said: “The junior doctors have resigned citing admission to post-graduation courses at other places in the country. They were under bond with the state government.

"A few others are from the central quota. For them the bond is not mandatory. Due to lockdown they were unable to join. With relaxation, they want to join their respective institutes. Around 22 have put in their papers.”

On stipend, she said: “The issue has been resolved and soon the payment will be cleared.”