DOCTORS at the District Hospital, Korba, staged a protest in support of the ongoing statewide agitation by intern doctors demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 16,000 to Rs 30,000. A large number of doctors gathered at the hospital premises and raised slogans backing the interns. They said intern doctors perform vital duties in outpatient departments, wards and emergency services, and play an important role in patient care. The protesting doctors said the existing stipend was inadequate in view of the interns’ workload, long duty hours and responsibilities. They noted that interns examine patients in OPDs, monitor those admitted to wards and attend to emergency cases.

 

Although no intern doctors are currently posted at the District Hospital, Korba, the doctors extended support to the statewide agitation, saying the demand concerned the dignity and working conditions of the entire medical fraternity. The protesters raised slogans including, ‘Rs 16,000 is an insult, Rs 30,000 is the demand,’ and ‘Every intern’s call is for Rs 30,000.’ They urged the state government to accept the demand at the earliest and warned that the agitation could be intensified if no decision was taken soon.