Doctors’ body threatens stir over allowance

Aurangabad: The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has criticised the recommendations of the seventh pay commission to decrease the non-practising allowance (NPA) from 25% to 20%.
Resident doctors in the state will wear black ribbons and organise a candle march on Thursday to protest against the Centre’s proposal.
MARD secretary Ayudh Magdum said, “Doctors will suffer a huge loss since their salary has not been hiked as promised.The hike is around 13% when it should have been at least 23.75%.”
He added that the government’s recommendations in the seventh pay commission, which will be applicable for the next 10 years, is against doctors.
MARD vice president Amit Lomte said the recommendations have come as a big setback to doctors who practise in a government set-up, despite lucrative offers from private sectors. “The cost of living and salary of all other professionals increase, but the government turns a blind eye towards the needs of the doctors, and expects them to stay on in government practice,” said Lomte.