Healthcare workers on contract, not a wise move: Docs

Chennai

As the healthcare staff are taken off the roster as per protocol at a time when the number of coronavirus cases are going up in the State, particularly Chennai, the Health department is finding it difficult to manage the sharp increase in cases.

Doctors who have a minimum qualification of MBBS degree are being recruited for COVID-19 duty at government hospitals by private agencies. They are offered fixed contract for three to six months, with the promise of an attractive salary.

The move to recruit staff on contract basis, and to outsource the recruitment, has not gone down well with government doctors and associations representing them.

“The services of the doctors who are appointed on a contract basis through outsourcing agencies will be terminated once the requirements are met. The outsourcing agencies will get the commission from the salaries of the doctors. The risk and hard work put in by the doctors would benefit these money-making agencies. Such appointments can instead be done through Medical Recruitment Board,” said Dr G Ravindranath, secretary of Doctors Association of Social Equality (DASE).

While government doctors say there is a provision to hire doctors during emergency situations like this battle against the pandemic, what has angered many of them is the move to outsource the work to outside agencies.

According to a senior official from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), these doctors who are appointed on contract basis would never be in a position to question the authorities over issues like poor quality personal protective equipment, inadequate quarantine facilities and other important matters.