National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) extends support to CSMMU doctors' agitation

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) extends support to CSMMU doctors' agitation

5 February 2008

The ongoing Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University doctors' agitation in Lucknow demanding remuneration comparable to that given in other states and other prestigious medical institutions of the country raises the crucial question that in an era of privatization is it reasonable to expect doctors to work for what is the lowest pay scale in the country?

It is appalling that the doctors at CSMMU are paid even lower than the UGC pay scale which means that a Professor at Lucknow Medical College gets a lower pay than a Professor at an ordinary Degree College. A doctor’s work is certainly more important and worthy of respect than other professions. Even with its limited resources CSMMU offers one of the best quality medical service at affordable cost for the poor population of not just Lucknow city but even neighbouring rural areas and districts.

It would be a pity if some of the best doctors serving here have to go and work for a better remuneration at private hospitals or abroad where they’ll become inaccessible to the poor population of our country. We believe that it is government’s responsibility to make affordable health care available to its entire population and good quality doctors are certainly an important factor in this.

The UP government must consider the demand of doctors of CSMMU seriously and give then a package similar to that of other states, like Karnataka, so that doctors do not feel discriminated against and can continue to concentrate on giving good quality medical treatment to ordinary patients.

The UP government must take into consideration that even among the states in India which do not allow private practice – Uttaranchal, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh – UP offers the lowest pay to its doctors. The doctors of CSMMU certainly deserve a better deal.

(Arundhati Dhuru) (S.R. Darapuri) (Sandeep Pandey)

Social activist IPS (retd.) Social Activist

National Alliance of People's Movements

NAPM