Srinagar: In a concerning development, resident doctors at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, have issued a stern warning of protest due to persistent delays in salary payments.
The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) released a statement highlighting the distressing situation faced by resident doctors at GMC Srinagar, citing prolonged delays in salary payments, exceeding five months in some instances, over the past year.
According to the statement, the administration has attributed these delays to a purported shortage of funds arising from the institution's increased seat capacity. Despite repeated efforts to seek clarification on the matter, the administration's response has been inadequate, leaving the resident doctors grappling with financial strain.
According to UNI news report,“Despite diligent efforts to seek clarification on these delays, the administration attributes them to a purported shortage of funds stemming from the institution's increased seat capacity,” the statement said.
The statement emphasized that the mounting frustration among resident doctors, both local and non-local, has reached a tipping point, prompting discussions of a potential institution-wide protest. The RDA has issued a three-day ultimatum for the timely disbursement of salaries, failing which they threaten to escalate their protest actions.
Efforts to address the issue have been ongoing, with the RDA engaging with the Chief Accounts Officer and Principal of GMC Srinagar throughout the current month. However, these discussions have yielded little progress, with resident doctors continuing to face delayed compensation for their services.
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“The collective frustration among residents is palpable; notwithstanding their considerable work hours, they are subjected to delayed compensation for their rightful duties and a sense of marginalization. Repeated appeals to the PMC and CAO have yielded little beyond false assurances and promises,” the statement said, adding that additionally, outstanding arrears from the fiscal year 2023 remain unresolved for resident doctors, exacerbating the situation further.
The RDA said taking into consideration the escalating discontent and demoralization among the residents, a protest appears increasingly likely should salary disbursement fail to occur within the next three days.
The RDA's statement underscores the urgent need for the administration to address the longstanding issue of salary delays, acknowledging the critical contributions of resident doctors to healthcare delivery.
“The potential disruption to regular duties by the residents staying back home could result in significant hardships to the institution and the patients in its care,” the statement said, news agency UNI reported.
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