"IT'S ALL WORK AND NO PAY" SAY AYUSH DOCTORS

Times of India
July 14, 2015
Bangalore, India

"We have been used like tissue papers and mercilessly thrown in the waste bin..." This is how a few Ayush doctors described the government's alleged apathy towards them.

At a press meet here on Monday, they alleged that they haven't been provided with adequate facilities despite serving in rural parts of the state for years. They have decided to go on an indefinite protest from July 20.

The government had sought the services of Ayush doctors in 2006 as there was a shortage of MBBS doctors in public health centres (PHC). They were recruited on contract basis with a promise to make them permanent later on. "Our many pleas for increase in basic salary and other benefits like insurance cover and TA/DA allowance have fallen on deaf ears. We run 272 public health centres in north Karnataka but we still don't have a permanent job," rued BS Madhukar, Ayurveda doctor.

According to him, in the past eight years, the government has given them medicines only thrice. "These drugs last only for three months. How can we continue treating poor patients if we are not supplied with adequate medicines?" he asked.

Atmaram M Shetty, another doctor, said though the basic salary of allopathy doctors was raised to Rs 28,000, Ayush practitioners received only Rs 13,000 till 2014. "Though it was increased to Rs 15,400 this year, we are struggling to meet family expenses," he added.

"In case of emergency leave, our salary is deducted. Allopathy doctors went on a protest demanding revision in salary last year and the government immediately considered it,'' Shivalinga PPA, member of NRHM Karnataka Ayush Doctors' Association, said.