BMC hikes stipend of 300 PG doctors from ₹14K to ₹54K

After delaying the decision for months, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has increased the stipend of almost 300 resident doctors from College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS), who are on Covid-19 duty at the civic hospitals, from ~14,000 to ~54,000.

For over two months, these resident doctors from CPS have been stationed at the Covid-19 ward in Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Vile Parle. Though they have been managing the hospital wards with medical students from civic-run hospitals and are working similar hours, CPS doctors were paid much lower than BMC postgraduate students.

“We are getting ~14,000 whereas BMC doctors get ~54,000 for doing the same amount of work. We are risking our lives to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients. So, why this discrimination?” said a postgraduate student from Cooper Association of Resident Doctors (CARD).

After several complaints, the civic body on Wednesday agreed and promised to pay ~ 54,000 to the students.

Amay Ghole, chairman of public health committee, BMC, said, “We have raised the stipend amount to ~54,000. All the 300 doctors from CPS will get the raised amount from next month.”

INFANT CURED OF COVID-19 IN FIVE DAYS

A month-old child was cured of Covid-19 at the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, also known as Sion hospital and returned home on Wednesday.

According to the information received from the hospital, on May 19, the infant was rushed to the hospital as he had fever and stiffness in the body. A swab test confirmed the presence of Sarscov-2 — the virus that causes Covid-19. “Within five days, the child tested negative for the virus. Other than his parents, the medical staffers also cheered for him,” said Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean of the hospital.

One of the nurses who took care of the child said, “All our tiredness and tension go away when we see patients especially children get discharged.”

Presently, there are 455 Covid patients at the hospital. The hospital has successfully conducted over 150 deliveries of Covid-infected mothers.