Association Urges Kerala Government to Revise Salaries of Junior Doctors, Raises Concern Over ₹42,000 Pay for Casualty Medical Officers
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kerala has urged the Kerala government to revise the salaries of junior doctors and ensure a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹80,000, stating that the current pay structure is inadequate and does not reflect the qualifications, responsibilities, and workload of young medical professionals.
The demand comes after the Government Medical College, Thrissur, issued a notification offering a monthly salary of ₹42,000 for MBBS-qualified doctors appointed as Casualty Medical Officers (CMOs). The association argued that the remuneration is disproportionately low considering that doctors complete more than five-and-a-half years of medical education and compulsory clinical training before taking up responsibilities involving emergency care, life-saving treatment, and medico-legal duties.
IMA Highlights Disparity in Government Pay Structure
According to the association, the salary offered to junior doctors is significantly lower than several other government positions requiring comparatively lower educational qualifications. It cited the example of a security officer’s post in a university, which requires only a BSc qualification but carries a starting salary ranging from ₹55,200 to ₹1,15,300.
The IMA clarified that the comparison was not intended to undermine the salaries of other government employees but to highlight the disparity in the remuneration provided to medical professionals entrusted with critical healthcare responsibilities.
Junior Doctors Are the Backbone of Government Hospitals, Says IMA
Describing junior doctors as the backbone of government hospitals, the association said they provide round-the-clock services in casualty departments, intensive care units (ICUs), medical and surgical wards, and labour rooms. These doctors frequently work night shifts under physically and mentally demanding conditions while also handling significant legal and professional responsibilities.
The association maintained that the existing salary does not adequately compensate for the intensity of their work or the level of expertise required.
Better Pay Needed to Prevent Brain Drain of Young Doctors
The IMA also expressed concern over the growing migration of young doctors from Kerala to other Indian states and overseas in search of better salaries and improved working conditions.
The association warned that unless the state government offers competitive remuneration, Kerala’s public healthcare system may face increasing difficulty in retaining skilled medical professionals.
IMA Reiterates Demand for ₹80,000 Minimum Monthly Salary
The association stated that it had previously requested the Kerala government to fix the minimum monthly salary of junior doctors at ₹80,000, arguing that the demand represents the minimum financial recognition deserved by doctors responsible for safeguarding public health.
In a joint statement, IMA Kerala State President Dr. M. N. Menon and State Secretary Dr. Roy R. Chandran urged the government to immediately review the salary fixed for Casualty Medical Officers at Government Medical College, Thrissur, as well as the remuneration of other junior doctors, and implement a minimum monthly salary of ₹80,000 across the state.
