K-P raises trainee doctors' stipends

Doctors seek 30% raise, say 15% falls short

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has increased the monthly stipends of Trainee Medical Officers (TMOs) and House Officers (HOs) serving in government and autonomous medical institutions by 15 per cent.

However, the provincial doctors' community has demanded at least a 30 percent increase in view of rising inflation and expressed full support for the ongoing strike by house officers and trainee doctors.

According to separate notifications issued by the K-P Finance Department on September 9, the increase was approved in light of a decision taken by the provincial cabinet during its 56th meeting held on August 12. The revised stipends will be effective from July 1.

The notifications further stated that the revised stipend would be increased by another five percent annually, calculated on the amount payable at the relevant time. The implementation of the revised stipends in autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions, Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs) and other relevant bodies under the provincial government will, however, remain subject to the availability of resources and approval by the competent forum.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) said House Officers and Trainee Medical Officers constituted the backbone of the healthcare system in teaching and tertiary-care hospitals. It maintained that these doctors should receive substantially better stipends and allowances given the nature and intensity of their responsibilities.

The PDA pointed out that despite persistent and uncontrolled inflation, stipends for trainee doctors had not been increased since 2015. It also expressed concern that house officers and trainee doctors were not being provided residential facilities at hospitals, adding to their financial burden.

The association said doctors working as house officers and TMOs played a critical role in providing round-the-clock medical services, particularly to poor and vulnerable patients. It therefore demanded that their stipends be increased by at least 30 per cent to bring them closer to prevailing economic realities.

The PDA also announced its complete support for the ongoing strike by House Officers and Trainee Medical Officers, describing the protest as a constitutional right of doctors seeking improved service conditions and financial compensation.

The government's decision has therefore failed to fully satisfy the protesting doctors. While the 15 per cent increase provides some relief and introduces a mechanism for a further five percent annual increase, the doctors' community insists that the immediate raise should be at least 30 per cent to offset years of stagnant stipends and the impact of inflation.

The dispute is likely to keep pressure on the provincial health authorities as trainee doctors continue their protest and demand a more substantial revision of their financial benefits.