The agitating doctors have demanded equal position for equally qualified, equal salary for same posts, transparency in salary, Dashain allowance, gratuity and educational leave.
“We presented our demands to the hospital administration one and half years ago. But the administration has only made excuses and evaded the issue,” said secretary of Manipal Unit of the Kathmandu University Teachers´ Association Dr Manish Kumar Shrestha trying to explain the “compulsion” for agitation.
“There is discrimination between Nepali and non-Nepali doctors in everything from perks and benefits to even quarters,” Shrestha added during an interaction with the media at the hospital premises.
The doctors claimed that they have proof of a disparity of around 300 percent in salary of equally qualified Nepali and non-Nepali doctors. They said that the administration has set up pay scale on the basis of bargaining. “The Indian doctors have bargained and are getting higher salary while we have not got so despite proving our competence,” Shrestha said.
He further pointed out that the Indian doctors get concessions for educational services but Nepali doctors don´t even get unpaid leave for further studies. “The hospital hasn´t conducted any educational development programs either,” said another doctor Laxman Rizal.
The doctors pointed out that such discrimination is extended to other employees as well.
The doctors have announced a series of protests beginning with wearing black armbands on Monday. They will close the Outpatient Department (OPD) for an hour on Tuesday, padlock and surround hospital administration on Wednesday, close OPD for half day on Thursday, shut down the entire hospital services except emergency on Friday and completely shut down hospital from Saturday during the first stage.
“But we will attend to the patients by putting tables on the ground. Being Nepali doctors it´s our duty to treat patients coming here. But we will not let the hospital run until our demands are met,” Rizal said.
The doctors said they will seek resignation of the dean, director and administrative officials during the second stage of agitation if the demands are not met during the first stage.
The hospital administration said that a management team is coming from India to address the issue within July. “We alone cannot set perks and benefits. It is done by the Manipal management and the issue will be solved within July,” said director Dr PK Chakraborty and added that closure and agitation is not the only way for solving the problem.
“We have given equal salaries and benefits on the basis of competence and qualification. The accommodation for non-Nepalis may have been a little easier due to security and transportation factors but there is no discrimination on other facilities,” Dr Chakraborty maintained.
There are around 90 doctors including 33 Nepali in the 700-bed hospital that has around 750 employees.
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