Doctors’ Pay: PMA opposes higher salaries at Jinnah Hospital

Pay raises to officials from income generated from patients “a total injustice” to other doctors in govt service:...

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has criticised the Jinnah Hospital board of management’s decisions to give added monthly allowances to the principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC), which is attached to the hospital, and the hospital’s medical superintendent and finance director.

In a press release, the PMA said that the government should give monthly allowances of Rs100,000 to the principal, Rs75,000 to the medical superintendent and Rs50,000 to the finance director of each public medical college and teaching hospital – in addition to their usual salary like at Jinnah Hospital.

The PMA said that the Jinnah Hospital board’s decision to effectively give pay raises to these officials from revenue generated from poor patients was “a total injustice” to other doctors in government service.

“The Punjab government should either implement the same formula at all hospitals or hold the AIMC officials accountable for the unfair distribution of funds,” said the PMA statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2011.