ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: The ministry of health has forwarded a recommendation to the finance ministry suggesting immediate increase in funds to raise the monthly stipend of the trainee residential medical officers (TRMOs) and the house officers to from Rs3,500 to Rs7,000 working in different hospitals under the federal government.

An official source told Dawn that the recent strike by the TRMOs of Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) had compelled the health ministry to take up the matter with the finance ministry. The finance ministry, the source informed, had suggested raise in the stipend to Rs6,200 instead of Rs7,000, as was being paid in Punjab and other provinces.

The residential doctors working in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and the FGSH have already launched a signature campaign to raise their demands out of which 375 doctors have responded. Out of 375 doctors, 222 are TRMOs and 122 house officers working in the Pims, while 54 TRMOs and 30 house officers are working in FGSH.

These doctors are demanding that the stipend being paid to them should at least be equated with other provinces (Rs6,200) saying ideally it will be better if the stipend is increased in view of the rising inflation and the high cost of living in the federal capital as compared with the other cities of the country.

Besides, they are also demanding entitlement to health cover for them and their family members as is being enjoyed by even a grade-I government employee. In addition to this, they demand that a hostel for lady doctors should be set up in the FGSH.

The doctors are also asking for permanent accommodation to those doctors who are married, and if it is not possible, such doctors should be compensated through monetary benefits.

A delegation of the FGSH doctors recently had also met Mohammad Aslam, Member National Assembly and apprised him of their problems. The MNA had assured them taking up their problems in the National Assembly in the coming session.

These doctors suggest that the doctors doing specialization should be provided with similar opportunities as are availed by to doctors at the time of their appointment in the Basic Health Units (BHU) for a period of two years. The offer should also include a salary of Rs12,000.