PESHAWAR: The trainee medical officers (TMOs) have boycotted elective services at public sector hospitals against delay in payment of their monthly stipend by the government.
The government has stopped releasing the salaries of trainee medical officers on quarterly basis to Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) owing to which they are paid their stipend with a delay.
Dr Asfandyar Bitani, the provincial president of Young Doctors Association, said that stipend was not paid timely to TMOs owing to which they were facing financial problems.
“This problem has been persisting for the past three months. We are getting salaries almost with delay of three weeks every month. Despite several efforts, the finance department has been creating issues in timely payment of stipend,” he said.
Dr Asfandyar said that YDA also staged protest demonstration on the premises of PGMI on Monday. “We have started boycotting elective services and may withdraw the emergency services as well if the government fails to resolve the issue once and for all,” he added.
PGMI chief says release of stipend to TMOs is subject to transfer of funds by govt
Prof Sahibzada Mahmood Noor, the chief executive officer of PGMI, told Dawn that the finance department had stopped releasing stipend of TMOs on quarterly basis that was causing delay. “The monthly stipend of TMOs is Rs600 million. Release of stipend to trainees is subject to transfer of funds by the government,” he added.
He said that funds were transferred on quarterly basis about a year ago but owing to financial crisis, the amount was now transferred piecemeal on monthly basis that was creating problems.
Prof Sahibzada Mahmood said that PGMI on its part was sending requests to government for timely transfer of funds because about 6,000 TMOs were playing a vital role in provision of healthcare services to people across the province.
“We have deployed TMOs in medical teaching institutions and private sector hospitals in Peshawar to ensure that they get specialised training and patients receive quality services,” he said. He said that PGMI offered postgraduate training to doctors in 38 specialties and their monthly stipend ranged from Rs80,000 to 105,000. “It varies with the year of training,” he added.
He said that TMOs were inducted on merit as per the slots sanctioned by College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).
Prof Sahibzada Mahmood, a senior dermatologist, said that their system for induction of TMOs was most transparent in the country as their role was highly important in health system. “We have state-of-the-art simulation laboratory in PGMI to impart training to doctors on modern lines and new emerging techniques,” he added.
He said that TMOs underwent a four-year postgraduate training in general medicine and general surgery and five-year in sub-specialties. He added that the major portion of the budget went to the stipend of TMOs and the rest to the salaries of 80 employees of PGMI.
“We have received funds on Monday. The amount will be now transferred to the accounts of TMOs,” he said.
Provincial Doctors Association in a statement asked the government to ensure issuance of stipend to TMOs in a timely manner.
Addressing a news conference on Monday, PDA leader Saddam Wazir also demanded 50 per cent increase in the stipend of TMOs and their share in the income generated by the hospitals from the treatment of patients on Sehat Card Plus.
“TMOs are not allowed to do private practice. They are solely dependent on their stipend,” he said.
Dr Saddam said that they performed duty round-the-clock but their stipend did not commensurate with their work and needed to be enhanced.
Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2023