On Wednesday, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had moved the Supreme Court for seeking an initiation of contempt actions against Delhi chief secretary along with the commissioners of municipal corporations over non-payment of salaries to doctors and other healthcare workers in Delhi government hospitals in spite of specific orders from the SC.

The IMA has more than three lakh doctors as its members. It said that the SC in Arushi Jain PIL on 17th June ordered all state governments to pay salaries and rewards to doctors and other healthcare staff on a timely basis. It also said that the SC order was followed by a health ministry order with the same effect. On 31st July, the SC had observed that the five states including Delhi, have not paid salaries to doctors and healthcare workers. The IMA said in its petition that it had granted one week for ensuring the payment of salary dues to them.

The IMA said that despite the SC’s repeated orders, salaries of doctors who are working under Delhi municipal corporations are not paid since June and July and it impossible for them to sustain. Doctors are doing their duties selflessly and tirelessly and are not even seeking any special treatment from the authorities. But, the minimum basic and fundamental right of the doctors and healthcare staff is timely payment of monthly salaries, compensations and allowances.

The IMA said while drawing the court’s attention to 5 doctors of Hindu Rao hospital who are on an indefinite hunger strike over non-payment of salaries. Over 625 doctors are martyred on duty while working as frontline warriors in treating COVID-19 patients.

Source: ET Healthworld