THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ESI Directorate under the State Labor Department has stalled the promotion and salary increment of the doctors in ESI Hospitals. Discrimination is against those working in similar ranks to that of doctors in the health department. 368 doctors are in the plight of having to retire after working in the same post without any salary increase.

Denial of meritorious promotion is on the lame excuse that there has been an economic crisis since the 11th pay revision came into effect in 2021. During this period 30 doctors had to retire without being promoted. They enter the service as Assistant Insurance Medical Officers. Insurance Medical Officers are eligible for promotion to Grade 2 after eight years and to Grade 1 after 15 years. They Should get a salary increase as well. They have been denied all this since 2021.

Six months ago, three doctors had applied to the Accountant General seeking an eight-year grade and it was granted as well but the directorate sent a letter to the AG stating that it should not be given. When the AG's office asked based on which order it should be denied, the officials withdrew the request, saying they had made a mistake. Following this, the grade was allotted, but only to the applicants . The application submitted by 23 doctors to the directorate weeks ago for meritorious promotion was forwarded to the finance department against the law instead of sending it to the AG. It is alleged that this is to deny promotion.

Specialist doctors also at lower posts

Specialist doctors including Cardiologists are working in the post of Assistant Insurance Medical Officer. The last salary revision report had recommended that the doctors, including those in the health department, who join the service only with MBBS, should not be given a higher start and the 10,000 rupees benefit that is part of it. It has also been decided that an MD qualification is required for this. After the protest, the health department reversed it, but the ESI doctors were not included.

ESI Hospitals: 09

ESI Dispensaries: 145

ESI Doctors: 368