Kolkata: Within a month of chief minister Mamata Banerjee announcing the hike in the stipend for junior doctors, the health department issued the official order for the hike. The Friday order stated that the increment would be effective from Apr 1.
On Feb 24, during a doctors' convention organised by the State Level Grievance Redressal Committee at Dhono Dhanyo auditorium, the CM announced the stipend hike for all categories of junior doctors. After the stipend enhancement, the interns, house staff, postgraduate and postdoctoral trainees, and PD trainees will receive an additional Rs. 10,000 every month.
Another order from the health department on Friday also detailed the remuneration increment for senior residents working in govt hospitals after completing their PG or postdoctoral courses. The order states that the remuneration for SRs with a PG diploma will now be Rs. 80,000 per month, while that of an SR with a PG degree and that of a postdoctoral SR will be Rs. 85,000 and Rs 1,00,000 a month, respectively.
"Junior doctors form the backbone of a govt hospital, whose duty hours can go as long as 36 hours at a stretch. Without them, running a tertiary care hospital is impossible. This hike is a great gesture from the CM, as this should work as a morale booster for them," said a principal of a medical college in Kolkata.