Doctors of the state unite under one umbrella- Doctors Coordination Committee

Dr. Mohammad Yousuf Tak will be Convener, J&K Doctors Coordination Committee (JKDCC).
“JKDCC is an amalgam the above associations in which the doctors across State have come under one umbrella to resolve their long-pending issues,” Dr tak told reporters during a press conference.

The members in meeting in Srinagar unanimously agreed upon to raise grave issues to stress upon the Government to resolve these issues in a stipulated time.

The doctors listed their concerns as under:

Ordinance on offence against on duty doctors or damage to hospital infrastructure to be made a non-bailable offence; Caderization of Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons; Caderization of Consultants;

Rationalization of posting: Posting and Transfer policy to be followed in letter and spirit; Departmental promotion of Medical officer, Dental Surgeons and Consultants at regular intervals in time bound manner; APRs even of previous years of Medical officers, Dental Surgeons and Consultants to be signed by sitting respective Directors and Commissioner Secretary; Hassle free sanction of earned leave for doctors.

Change of nomenclature of Dental Surgeons into Medical Officer (Dental) / Dental Officer as followed in other states; Geriatric OPD/Geriatric wards in each district hospital for old age patients; Proposal for attaching a medical officer with each consultant so that he/she can be well trained and can manage the patients who need specialized treatment in case Consultant remains busy with other patients on when consultant goes on leave.

Announcing annual awards to those doctors who excel in each specialty; Rooms for Consultants, Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons in each hospital of state; Non-interference in routine duties and rosters of doctors by Tehsildars/SDM or officials from other department; Proposal for treating post graduate training course as in-service duration for doctors who are PSC confirmed; Restoration of seniority in administrative levels with equal share to consultants, medical officers and Dental surgeons in proportion ratio of 2:2:1.

Identity Cards of doctors to be treated as curfew pass; Two and half day salary for all doctors as is given to paramedical staff. Since doctors whether Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons or Consultants do not avail gazetted or non-gazetted holidays. Medical officers are put on night duties and consultants have to attend 24 x 7 call duties various district and sub-district hospitals. Increased special pay given to doctors from 800 to 4000 and must be given to consultants also; Creation of new dental surgeon posts as no dental surgeon posts have been advertised for last more than 10 years. The number of unemployed dental surgeons has swelled to more than 3000 with the state of Oral Health Services in shambles.

Rural allowance: More allowance to doctors working in far flung areas than working in Capital cities.

Equal pay for equal work : Doctors whether Medical officers, Consultants & Dental Surgeons working under National Health Mission (NHM) scheme should get equal salary as given to PSC confirmed Doctors; Policy for regularization of doctors employed under NHM scheme as early as possible; Risk allowances and high risk vaccination to doctors; Career incentives to doctors in the form of special medical course trainings, fellowships; Reservations of 50 percent posts at newly upgraded medical colleges for consultants working in health and possessing the required criteria.

Increasing the sanctioned strength of consultants and senior consultant at all District hospitals without any political centered distribution as has been in past; Special economic package/Land lease for full time Private Practitioners for opening of Clinics/Hospital or Nursing homes which will relieve the burden on Government regarding health care as employment generation will be created.
JKDCC demanded NEET center to be set up in Srinagar also and removal of pay anomaly among doctors.

The meeting was attended by office bearers of all associations including Founder DAK, Dr Khalid Parvez, Dr Suhail Naik, President DAK, Dr Owais H Dar General Secretary DAK, Dr Mir Mushtaq (Spokesperson JKDCC).

(With inputs from KNS)