Doctors Demand Pay Revision, Better Working Conditions, and Fair Appointments
Chennai: Over 50 government doctors, including 20 women, staged a protest at the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) office in Chennai under the banner of the Legal Coordination Committee for Government Doctors (LCC). The protesters demanded the implementation of Pay Band IV as per Government Order (GO) 354, along with several other long-pending grievances.
Key Demands Raised by the Doctors
Dr. S. Perumal Pillai, president of LCC, stated that the protest aimed to draw the Chief Minister’s attention and push for long-overdue reforms. Apart from salary revisions, the doctors raised concerns regarding:
- Better working conditions for postgraduate medical students, including weekly leave, regulated duty hours, and improved accommodation.
- Government job for Ms. Divya, wife of late Dr. Vivekanandan, who died during the COVID-19 pandemic while in service.
- Appointment of more doctors and nurses in government hospitals based on population and patient load.
Unfulfilled Promises and Government Inaction
In a press release, the LCC pointed out that despite a court directive, Ms. Divya has yet to receive a government job, leaving the family without justice.
Dr. Perumal Pillai also recalled that in 2019, M.K. Stalin, then the Leader of the Opposition, had personally supported government doctors during a protest and promised that their pay demands would be met once the DMK came to power. However, even after forming the government, the commitment remains unfulfilled.
“How can Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi’s GO 354 be ignored under a DMK government, especially when his son is the Chief Minister and his grandson is the Deputy Chief Minister?” Dr. Pillai questioned.
Concerns Over Healthcare Infrastructure and Workforce
The association emphasized that medical professionals are the backbone of the healthcare system, not just buildings and equipment. They criticized the government’s failure to increase the number of doctors, nurses, and medical staff despite rising patient numbers in government hospitals.
“If the Minister of Health acknowledges that patient numbers have doubled, then why hasn’t the workforce increased accordingly?” the association questioned.
Doctors Pledge to Continue Their Fight
The protesting doctors vowed to fight for:
✅ Weekly rest, proper working hours, and accommodation for postgraduate students.
✅ Pay Band IV implementation within 12 years as per GO 354.
✅ Government job for Ms. Divya, honoring the service of late Dr. Vivekanandan.
The protest highlights the ongoing struggle of government doctors for fair pay, better working conditions, and healthcare workforce expansion, pressing the state government to act on its promises.
