Medical teachers demand salary hike, threaten stir

AHMEDABAD: In a meeting of central council and general board of Gujarat Medical Teacher's Association (GMTA) on Thursday, medical teachers said they will be forced to go on an indefinite strike, if the state government fails to hike their salaries in a week's time.
GMTA officials said talks are currently on with the government to raise the salaries of medical teachers and bring them on par with the salaries of teachers in arts, science, commerce and other colleges.
GMTA secretary Dr J C Makwana said that while they are hopeful that the government will resolve their issue at the earliest, the medical teachers are in no mood to relent till their salaries are hiked.
"The state government officials concede that our salaries are less as compared to other college teachers and that we deserve a hike as we do double duties as we not only teach but also run hospitals. However, they have refrained from giving us any time bound assurance. If we don't get a positive response, the medical teachers will have no choice but to go on an indefinite strike," Dr Makwana said. It needs mention that there are nearly 1,500 medical teachers who have the support of the medical associations as well as junior doctors' association. And If the teachers go on strike, not only medical teaching, but health services in hospitals will also severely suffer.