Medical Officers Cite Pending Seniority List, Promotions, and Policy Decisions
Government doctors in Karnataka have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government, warning of a statewide strike if their long-pending demands are not addressed. The representation was submitted to the Health and Family Welfare Department by the Karnataka Medical Officers’ Association, highlighting several unresolved service and policy-related issues.
One of the key concerns raised is the long-pending seniority list of doctors and officers in the department. As per government norms, the seniority list is required to be prepared every December. However, the association alleged that no such list has been finalised for over 13 years despite repeated representations.
Due to the absence of an updated seniority list, promotions have remained stalled for years. The association claimed that many eligible doctors have been deprived of career advancement opportunities, and some have even retired without receiving due promotions.
The doctors have also expressed dissatisfaction over recent government orders, including the cancellation of higher education funding for Health Department doctors. While doctors working under the ESI and Medical Education Departments reportedly continue to receive financial support for pursuing higher studies, this benefit has allegedly been withdrawn for those under the Health Department.
Another major issue flagged by the association is the shifting of obstetrics and gynaecology specialists from Community Health Centres (CHCs). The government’s move to redeploy gynaecologists from smaller hospitals with fewer deliveries, reportedly aimed at reducing the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), has been criticised by the association.
According to the doctors, removing OBG specialists from rural CHCs may instead put pregnant women in distress by forcing them to travel longer distances for delivery care. They argued that this could adversely impact maternal health outcomes rather than improve them.
The association has further objected to restrictions imposed on private in-patient practice by government doctors. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding irregular and interrupted medicine supplies in government hospitals, which they say are affecting patient care and causing avoidable hardship.
With the 21-day deadline now in effect, the association has made it clear that failure to resolve these issues could lead to a strike by government medical officers across Karnataka. The coming weeks are likely to be crucial as the state government weighs its response to the demands.
