Pay hike for trainee doctors

An order issued by the Chief Minister here on Thursday said that the present stipend for trainee doctors would be hiked from Rs 13,000 to Rs 20,000, while the stipend for PG doctors would be hiked from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 for first year, from Rs 26,000 to Rs 37,500 for second year and from Rs 27,000 to Rs 40,000 for the third year. Those doing PG diploma would get Rs 35,000 (presently Rs 25,000) for first year and Rs 37,500 (presently Rs 26,000) for second year. “Likewise, stipend for those doing specialty studies in medicine has also been increased, with the maximum being Rs 45,000,” the order said. 

Meanwhile, in Vellore, state Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said health department plans to recruit 23,000 doctors and 2,000 nurses to ensure that there was no shortage of medical personnel in state hospitals. Interacting with reporters after inspecting the pediatric, inpatient and cardiac care wards and medicine stocks in the Government Medical College Hospital at Adukamparai on the outskirts of Vellore city, he said medical seats had been increased to 1,000 and PG seats to 562 to ensure that the state had enough facilities to train much needed medical professionals. 

The government was planning to even fill up vacancies caused by medical professionals who went for training, he said. Referring to the death of Kiruthika, a teacher, who died when she was operated upon following procedures on youtube, he said stringent action would be taken against her husband and also on those who followed similar practices. He said the government planned to open accident and trauma care centers in 72 locations.