Memorandum Submitted Demanding Fixed Duty Rosters, Essential Medical Equipment, and ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’ for GMSH-16 Specialist Doctors

Memorandum Submitted Demanding Fixed Duty Rosters, Essential Medical Equipment, and ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’ for GMSH-16 Specialist Doctors

Chandigarh | August 28, 2026

In a bid to address operational inefficiencies, lack of diagnostic equipment, and remuneration disparities faced by specialist doctors recruited under the Prime Minister Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM / NHM) at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector-16, and various civil dispensaries in Chandigarh, the organization ‘Voice for Fundamental Rights’ has submitted a detailed representation to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and the Hon’ble Administrator of UT Chandigarh.

Vikram Singh, Founder of Voice for Fundamental Rights, requested the urgent intervention of the authorities to issue necessary directives for immediate relief.

Key Highlights of the Press Release :

Patient Care Suffering Due to Brief 1-2 Hour Rotational Duties: The Health Department currently posts specialist doctors across multiple dispensaries for short shifts lasting only 1 to 2 hours. As a result, patients travelling from distant areas are forced to return without consultation or receive incomplete medical examination as doctors must depart for their next location.

Lack of Essential Diagnostic Equipment: Specialists in eye care, ENT, and other departments have not been provided basic testing tools for thorough patient examination. Delivering accurate diagnoses without essential equipment is impractical, constituting a violation of patients’ fundamental rights.

Demand for Equal Pay for Equal Work: Specialist doctors under the PM-ABHIM scheme perform duties equivalent to their regular counterparts.

Citing the landmark Supreme Court judgment in State of Karnataka vs. Uma Devi, the representation demands financial parity and “Equal Pay for Equal Work” for contractual/scheme-based specialists.

Severe Operational Strain on Doctors: Frequent intra-day commuting between multiple dispensaries causes unnecessary logistical hurdles, professional insecurity, and acute burnout among the medical faculty.

Core Demands Addressed to the Ministry of Health & UT Administration:

Stationary/Dedicated Duty Postings: Immediately discontinue the short-duration rotational system and mandate fixed, full-day duty postings at major hospitals and prominent dispensaries to enable comprehensive patient care.

Immediate Supply of Diagnostic Equipment: Provide essential testing apparatus to eye, ENT, and other specialist departments across dispensaries without delay.

Financial Parity: Grant equal remuneration to PM-ABHIM specialists in alignment with the Supreme Court directives to safeguard their professional future and uphold equal rights.

The organization expressed confidence that the Union Health Ministry and the UT Chandigarh Administration will take prompt, positive action prioritizing patient welfare and the fundamental rights of healthcare professionals.

Issued By:

Vikram Singh

Voice for Fundamental Rights