Committee report on docs grievances submitted to high court

Kochi, Mar 26 (UNI) The Vishwas Mehta Committee Report, recommending restructuring of the special common allowance to government doctors on the basis of service seniority, was today submitted to the Kerala High Court.

State Advocate General C P Sudhakara Prasad handed over the report to the court.

The committee had been set up by the State Government to look into the grievances of government doctors, including their demand for salary revision.

The committee, however, recommended to the government to refer the demands relating to salary hike for consideration of the next Pay Commission.

The report was filed in accordance with the direction of the High Court passed while it was hearing a petition by the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) for a pay hike and also a public interest litigation (PIL) against the doctors' strike last year.

The court will consider the two writ petitions on April four.

Among its other recommendations, the committee said the benefits of difficult rural area postings should be extended to the dental doctors also.

Suggestions were also made to include dental doctors in administrative cadre and public health lab cadre.

The report also suggested restructuring of the health services by proper implementation of speciality and administrative cadres.

However, the committee observed repeated agitations and unrest in the health sector in Kerala should be avoided through continuing discussions between the government and the doctors.

The committee chairman urged the KGMOA to ensure the general public did not suffer in view of their renewed non-cooperation strike and appealed to the association to withdraw its stir.

UNI XR ARC GM SY GC2046