Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Dec 23: Highlighting a growing salary crisis among contractual medical staff, a contract doctor posted at a remote Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Dakshina Kannada district has resigned after going unpaid for six consecutive months, citing acute financial distress and uncertainty.
Dr Kuldeep M D, who was serving at the Kollamogru Primary Health Centre, stated in his resignation letter that the prolonged non-payment of salary had left him struggling to manage basic living expenses, forcing him to step down from service.
Dr Kuldeep said the delay was caused by a budget shortfall under “Account Head 26”, under which his salary was routed, affecting more than half a dozen contract doctors across the district. He said he had written to District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Thimmaiah nearly four months ago and was assured that the issue would be resolved, but no payment had been made so far.
After completing his MBBS, Dr Kuldeep joined the Kollamogru PHC around two-and-a-half years ago. Recounting his experience, he said his salary was credited on time during the first six months of service, after which delays of one to three months became routine. He said he managed the situation initially but has now exhausted all his savings after not being paid since July, leaving him with no alternative but to resign.
He said the prolonged delay has had a serious impact on his dependent parents, particularly his father, who is undergoing dialysis. Even a delay of one or two months, he said, causes significant hardship, and the consequences of a six-month non-payment are far more severe.
Following his resignation, the DHO reportedly assured him that the pending salaries would be released and attempted to persuade him to withdraw his resignation. However, Dr Kuldeep declined, stating that there was no guarantee that such a situation would not recur, and that continuing under such uncertainty would harm his career. He also noted that many doctors facing similar issues hesitate to speak out, especially those with family responsibilities.
The Kollamogru PHC serves a population of over 10,000, and Dr Kuldeep worked there from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, drawing a monthly salary of Rs 60,000. He said the work environment posed no issues and that serving poor and underprivileged patients had given him professional satisfaction, adding that salary delay was the sole concern.
He also pointed out that he travelled nearly 80 km every day from Sullia to Kollamogru, and was occasionally required to report for duty at neighbouring PHCs when medical officers were unavailable.
While salary delays of one to two months are not uncommon for contract doctors, Dr Kuldeep said the restriction on private practice makes prolonged non-payment especially difficult. He said he has now decided to focus on pursuing an MD degree.
Responding to the issue, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat CEO Narwadi Vinayak Kharbari said that salaries have been delayed for seven contract doctors due to the non-release of funds under a specific account head. He said a request for fund release has been submitted and that the issue is expected to be resolved shortly.