JplisMltancoits gjofcs. THE MEMORIAL OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF INDIA ON THE GRIEV-
ANCES OF ASSISTANT-SURGEONS.? The condition of
Assistant-Surgeons
in
the
Indian Medical Service says the ludiav Daily Ntius is
one
of those
questions which
individual for active notice fr
y no other body. The Medical Association of India has lately memorialised Government on thissubject, and has asked for a Commission of Inquiry. AssistantSurgeons are usually natives of India, who, after passing as graduates or licentiates of the Indian Universities or colleges, are selected for the Government service ; some few have also taken British diplomas. As a rule they are in charge of small civil stations or dispensaries. They are employed in the Vaccination Department, or as assistant teachers in the Indian Medical Schools.
Dicc.
1894.]
CORRESPONDENCE.
Many of the class win not a little reputation. they are paid only Rs. 100 a month for the
Yet
first
37ears ; Rs. 150 for the second, and 200 for the third. In some cases a local -allowance is made, varying from Rs. 20 to Rs. 50 monthly. Surely this is small in view of the work performed and the qualification of the service. Another very distinct grievance is the denial of any promotion to the Uncovenanted Medical Service. The memorial proposes that ?ne of every three vacancies in ihis service should be given to selected Assistant-Surgeons, and also that a proportion of the Deputy Sanitary Commissionerships should be similarly disposed of. This would, of course, relieve commissioned medical officers, and would seem to be no more than justice to the Assistant-Surgeons. The Army Act, too, does not recognise them. Most Government servants may carry arms, and these men often in isolated positions, where are protection becomes, at times, a necessity. At durbars and official gatherings they are unrecognised, and they complain, with some reason, that their status with their patients and the general public is consequently lowered. Some years back Sir William Moore, then Surgeon-General of the Bombay Presidenc}7, strongty advised redress of the Assistant-Surgeons' grievances, stating that when commissioned medical officers were sent to Burmah, he had to fill their places temporarily from the Assistant-Surgeon class, the duties of the higher charges being performed by the AssistantSurgeons t his entire satisfaction. "We endorse the letter of an Assistant-Surgeon to a contem?" The porary. He writes : Assistant-Surgeons are in a worse condition to-day than they were fifty years ago ; and though nominally gazetted officers are treated more like ministerial officers." By the way the members of this class object to the prefix of "assistant. Is there any reason why they should not be indulged with a full title ?
Rs.
seven
479
ANCES OF ASSISTANT-SURGEONS.? The condition of
Assistant-Surgeons
in
the
Indian Medical Service says the ludiav Daily Ntius is
one
of those
questions which
individual for active notice fr
y no other body. The Medical Association of India has lately memorialised Government on thissubject, and has asked for a Commission of Inquiry. AssistantSurgeons are usually natives of India, who, after passing as graduates or licentiates of the Indian Universities or colleges, are selected for the Government service ; some few have also taken British diplomas. As a rule they are in charge of small civil stations or dispensaries. They are employed in the Vaccination Department, or as assistant teachers in the Indian Medical Schools.
Dicc.
1894.]
CORRESPONDENCE.
Many of the class win not a little reputation. they are paid only Rs. 100 a month for the
Yet
first
37ears ; Rs. 150 for the second, and 200 for the third. In some cases a local -allowance is made, varying from Rs. 20 to Rs. 50 monthly. Surely this is small in view of the work performed and the qualification of the service. Another very distinct grievance is the denial of any promotion to the Uncovenanted Medical Service. The memorial proposes that ?ne of every three vacancies in ihis service should be given to selected Assistant-Surgeons, and also that a proportion of the Deputy Sanitary Commissionerships should be similarly disposed of. This would, of course, relieve commissioned medical officers, and would seem to be no more than justice to the Assistant-Surgeons. The Army Act, too, does not recognise them. Most Government servants may carry arms, and these men often in isolated positions, where are protection becomes, at times, a necessity. At durbars and official gatherings they are unrecognised, and they complain, with some reason, that their status with their patients and the general public is consequently lowered. Some years back Sir William Moore, then Surgeon-General of the Bombay Presidenc}7, strongty advised redress of the Assistant-Surgeons' grievances, stating that when commissioned medical officers were sent to Burmah, he had to fill their places temporarily from the Assistant-Surgeon class, the duties of the higher charges being performed by the AssistantSurgeons t his entire satisfaction. "We endorse the letter of an Assistant-Surgeon to a contem?" The porary. He writes : Assistant-Surgeons are in a worse condition to-day than they were fifty years ago ; and though nominally gazetted officers are treated more like ministerial officers." By the way the members of this class object to the prefix of "assistant. Is there any reason why they should not be indulged with a full title ?
Rs.
seven
479
