HC quizzes TN Govt on doctors' working condition, salaries

The Madras High Court on Wednesday voiced concern over working conditions of medical professionals, confronting the Tamil Nadu government with a series of questions including those on availability of doctors in various hospitals and their salaries.

A bench of justices N Kirubakaran and V Parthiban posed the queries while hearing a petition demanding action against medical students, doctors and house surgeons for alleged negligence and misbehaviour by them during their strike in March.

Responding to the queries, the government counsel Kavitha said a doctor of assistant surgeon grade is paid a salary of Rs 45,000.

Comparing pay scales of teachers and other government officials, the bench observed that doctors, who work round the clock in government hospitals and treat a number patients every day, cannot be equated with those in other professions.

"Can you equate doctors with others professionals? They should be paid more salary. They are working round the clock," said Justice Kirubakaran, observing that a doctor's life is often at risk and there is no security available for them.

When it was brought to the notice of the bench that those in the Group I service of the government were getting more salary than doctors, it said the government must take care of doctors and their security.

Recalling that it had sought in 2017 the details of doctors working in the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital here and other government medical college and hospitals in the state besides the shift-wise strength of all medical personnel, the bench said the information was yet to be provided.

The bench then asked the government counsel to file a detailed report on all issues raised by it and and posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.