Mangaluru : The Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said that the State government would offer more salary to rural doctors than doctors in City in coming days to promote government doctors to serve in rural areas.

Speaking at the sensitisation programme for the staff nurses at RAPCC Hall at wenlock Hospital here on Sunday, he said that according to the plan which is in the file stage, taluk-level doctors will get more salary than that of cities. Doctors who serve at places which are more than eight kilometre far from taluk centre will get even better wages, he said.

The Minister said that the government has written a letter to the State finance commission on increasing the Dearness Allowance (DA) of doctors working on contract basis to 125.5 per cent from 75 per cent, which would help to increase their salary upto Rs 31,000. “Hope that it will be done very soon,” he said.

U T Khader said that in 2007, including basic salary of Rs 13,950, DA of Rs 13,950 and HRA, contract doctors used to get around Rs 28,000. However, during BJP tenure in 2012, sixth pay commission came into existence.

Though the DA was increased into 125.25, it didn’t get nod by the finance commission. Because of confusion, many doctors were getting only the basic salary which was around Rs 14,000.

When the issue was rised by a physician from Chamarajnagar, it was followed up and disparity was found. “We decided to hike salary to Rs 25,650 immediately, which includes basic salary, 75 per cent DA and HRA. The order has been passed on December 6 in this regard. Now, there are no complications in this issue,” he said.