HUBBALLI: While Karnataka is grappling with the pandemic, over 350 Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS) doctors appointed ‘against the post of MBBS doctors’, will lose their jobs by June 15.
The government has issued appointment orders to 1,048 MBBS doctors and they are expected to replace BAMS doctors at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state.
The BAMS doctors were appointed 16 years ago and at meagre remuneration and the removal of these experienced doctors from service is likely to affect Covid management in rural areas.
According to the notification issued by the government on May 30, the MBBS doctors, who have been appointed as general duty medical officers, must report for duty within 15 days.
Dr Lokesh S N, president, Karnataka State Against MBBS Ayush Doctors Association, told TOI that as many as 353 BAMS doctors, who were appointed on ‘against post’ basis will be relieved as soon as these MBBS doctors report to duty at the PHCs.
“We were 353 in number as on July 2020 and about 20 more doctors were appointed on same basis in some districts.
Among these over 370 doctors, 58 are serving in health department since 2006 while other were recruited since 2017.
Many of us are over 50 years of age.
Although we had only consolidated salary and no perks, we worked during all emergencies like floods, drought and the pandemic.
Now, we are being relieved from duties.
It may be recalled that 90% Covid management in taluk and rural areas was handled by Ayush doctors,” he added.
“As the government has not made any alternative plan to retain them in health or Ayush departments, over 350-odd BAMS doctors will be sent home as soon as MBBS doctors report to duty,” he said.
Dr Vijayalaxmi Koni, a doctor at Salahalli/Budnur PHC in Ramdurg taluk, Belagavi district said that she had joined the health department in May 2017 shunning her private practice.
“Now, I am told that I will be relieved as soon as MBBS doctor reports to duty.
I worked hard, but now I am worried about my future,”she said.