In Kerala, there has been an incident wherein doctors are threatening to resign in case they do not get their desired pay. With more than half of the 900 plus junior doctors deployed in COVID First-Line Treatment Centres (CFLTC) in Kerala yet to receive their monthly salary, they have threatened to resign from their duty from September 10. The doctors have sent a notice along with resignation letters to the government. The doctors were appointed in COVID centres for a period of three months, in the wake of a spike in cases of COVID – 19 in the state.
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When asked about the junior doctors’ decision to submit resignation letters due to nonpayment of salaries and salary cut, the chief minister said; "they may be doing it for their personal interests.” To another question whether the government will reconsider the salary cut, the chief minister replied in a negative manner. The directorate of health services included the junior doctors in the government's salary challenge campaign under which six days' salary has to be contributed to the chief minister's distress relief fund every month.
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A section of junior doctors claimed that only 400 doctors had received salary so far and that too after facing salary challenge cut and tax deduction. The junior doctors are working under extreme pressure. “In many CFLTCs, more than 100 patients are being managed by just two doctors. Many work continuously for 12 to 16 hours a day,” said a doctor in Alappuzha district. Even the one week leave that was promised after 10 days continuous duty is not being given at many places. There have been instances of doctors being recalled after two days of leave.
