For docs, all that glitters is not gold

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru:

The AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) doctors in government hospitals in Karnataka continue to be underpaid despite being eligible for equal pay as allopathic doctors.

As the city celebrated 'National Doctor's Day' on July 1, News Trail spoke to some doctors around the city to bring out the other side of the story. Many doctors in the city say they face many difficulties, just not the salary difference.

AYUSH doctors allege that allopathic doctors get many benefits in hospitals, from being invited to big seminars to being paid more.

Dr Radhe Krishan, research officer at Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, informs that there is a huge gap in budget allocation for AYUSH and allopathic medicine. Krishnan added that although many prefer allopathy, the number of people opting for homoeopathy has increased.

Anil (name changed), a doctor from a government homeopathic dispensary, claims that allopathic doctors are paid much more than AYUSH doctors. “In government clinics and hospitals, the starting salary for allopathic doctors is around Rs 80,000. But we don’t even make Rs 30 000. How is that fair If we both are doctors,” he said.

Reports suggest that people are more inclined towards allopathy over AYUSH medicine, which is one of the main reasons AYUSH doctors face disparities in preference and remuneration. Dr Sarita, an AYUSH doctor at Government Ayurveda Hospital, Bengaluru, said, “We are not given higher pay and that much importance because we have a slow recovery period. But that doesn’t mean that we are not efficient.”

She also spoke about how many patients now usually start with AYUSH medicine, but when it doesn’t help, they seek help from allopathic doctors.

During Covid, Karnataka raised the salary of AYUSH doctors to Rs 45,000 from Rs 25,000 for six months. The Supreme Court ruled last year that allopathy doctors and AYUSH doctors working in government hospitals are entitled to equal pay. If there is discrimination in the payment, it violates the right to equality under Article 14.

Doctors facing mental health issues

One of the things that goes unnoticed is the deteriorating mental health of doctors. Low wages, long working hours, and endless queues of patients can make anyone stressed and anxious. Dr Nivedita, a psychologist, said that even post-COVID, many doctors suffer from anxiety.

“During covid, we lost so many people around us, which took a big toll on everyone’s mental health. But still, many are not able to get out of the trauma. The same goes for doctors. We have to work every day, and we have no fixed time, and we feel drained,” she said.

Many doctors say they feel emotionally and physically drained after a long work day. They say that they don’t get to enjoy their family time and that the hectic schedule is impacting their mental health.

Dr Shafiq AM, Director and CEO of Specialist Hospital, said, “Doctors often have long working hours and are exposed to the emotions of not only patients but also the need to provide the proper treatment, feelings of disappointment when treatment modalities do not progress as desired, and the feeling of being powerless against certain stubborn diseases. This could lead to emotional burnout. Doctors should maintain a healthy work-life balance and engage in physical activities such as cycling, swimming, and trekking and also take up some form of meditation like yoga or problem-solving as an alternative. It is advisable for doctors to attend regular stress management training programs to reduce workplace stress and have a positive impact on their colleagues. Doctors need to understand that once they have burnout, it is irreversible. Therefore, prevention is the only option."