Maharastra Govt. promised Medical Officers salary at par with Central govt employees

On Thursday in a written assurance to the Federation of Association of Health Officers (FAHO), state health minister Dr Rajendra Shingne agreed to bring the MOs working in the state public health department in the salary slab of MOs of central government.

However, since the formal decision in this regard will be taken only in the state cabinet meeting, the FAHO says that it has only suspended its ongoing agitation for over a month and half and may strike work again if the decision does not come in their favour.

Speaking to TOI, Dr Vijay Gedam, seputy director of health services, who was a part of the delegation which met the health minister, said that the minister had assured to increase the salary slab of grade I MOs (the entry level in public health department) from existing Rs 9,300-34,000 to 15,300-39,100 with effect from June 1, 2006 as per the Sixth Pay Commission.

Dr Sanjay Manekar, secretary, FAHO, Nagpur chapter told TOI that the state had also agreed to bring the doctors working in all rural and civil hospitals in state under the Non Practising Allowance scheme. "Till now doctors working in primary health centres and all other public health department hospitals including those from the assistant director post to the director health services were getting NPA. But rural doctors were kept out of this benefit. Hence we welcome the decision," he said.

The state has also agreed to introduce the dynamic career assurance promotion scheme (DCAP) scheme introduced specifically for doctors in the Sixth Pay Commission by Centre.

But instead of allowing provision of an increase in the salaries of next cadre after every four, eight, 12 and 20 years, the state has agreed to restrict this scheme at only two levels after six and 13 years of service.
Source : Times of India.