Mangaluru: Medical intern and post graduate doctor serving at Government Wenlock Hospital(GWH), Regional Advanced Paediatric Care Centre (RAPCC) and Lady Goschen Hospital, Mangaluru, Karnataka staged protest on October 22, Monday at Government Wenlock Hospital against non-payment of stipend by the Government of Karnataka from March 2018 onwords.

Protesters said, atotal of 51 medical intern and 38 post graduate doctors, we are meritorious professionals who have qualified through K-CET and have been allotted the government seat at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore through the state counseling conducted by Karnataka Examination Authority(KEA). We form the backbone of the healthcare system at our government hospital and have endlessly and tirelessly served the people of Karnataka. The casualty, emergency wards, ICU, labour theater, out-patient department and operating rooms will stand crippled without our unrelenting service.But despite utmost sincerity and efficiency we have perennially faced discrimination and apathy with regard to monthly remuneration for our work.

Shockingly, the Department of Medical Education(D.M.E) has deprived us of our rightful stipend for the last 8 months despite it being sanctioned. In spite of our busy work schedule we have painstakingly approached the  concerned officials on multiple occasions only to be humiliated and played back and forth with false assurances. We even made a humble appeal to our Honorable Chief Minister and Minister of Medical Education who promised us a speedy resolution but we are yet to see any concrete outcome.

Many of us are married and have significant financial commitments and constrints. The stipend being our sole source of income has pushed us to a point of sheer desperation. It is in light of the above we humbly plead for your support to provide a speedy resolution to our predicament. We sincerely request you to take up our problem with the Government of Karnataka at the earliest and make a strong appeal on our behalf to consider this matter with a sense of urgency so that our pending salary can be paid without any further procedural delays.

Despite being demoralized by the apathy of our government and being taken for granted, we continue to render endless service to our patients in fulfillment of our oath and stying true to our conscience. We hope that our humble reguest will recieve your due  consideration and support. Kindly help restore our dignity and the nobility of this service. ‘Save the Doctor’.

Speaking to the protesters Wenlock Superintendent Dr Rajeshwari Devi assured to bring their issues to the notice of the government. The protest was subsequently withdrawn but house surgeons have warned of an indefinite strike from November 1 if their demand was not fulfilled.