The Legal Coordination Committee for Government Doctors (LCC) has urged the Tamil Nadu government to address a series of long-pending demands concerning pay revision, staff shortages, regularisation of contractual employees and welfare measures for doctors serving in the public healthcare system.

In a representation addressed to the Health Minister, the committee congratulated the newly assumed government and urged it to prioritise the demands of government doctors, including implementation of pay band four after 12 years of service as per Government Order 354. The committee said Tamil Nadu government doctors, including specialists and super-specialists, were receiving salaries lower than their counterparts in several other States despite the State’s achievements in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.”

The committee also requested the government to provide a government job to the wife of Dr. Vivekanandan, a government doctor who died while serving during the COVID-19 pandemic. It said repeated appeals seeking relief for the family had remained unresolved for more than five years.

Among other demands, the LCC called for the regularisation of 400 dental surgeons who have been working on contract in Primary Health Centres for over 15 years. It stated that the doctors continued to work without permanency, promotions, or adequate pay.

The representation further sought doubling of doctor and nurse posts in government hospitals and appointment of dental surgeons in all Primary Health Centres. It also demanded withdrawal of a Rule 17(b) charge memo issued against S. Perumal Pillai, president, Legal Coordination Committee for Government Doctors, for leading a protest highlighting doctors’ demands.