2012.02.

21 Secretary, GMOA, Dear Sir, Re: Extra duty allowance circular No: MO-01-18/2009 Considering the segment 01 of that circular, it says, Payment of extra duty is for active duties performed outside normal hours of duty.

1. Referring to the above segment it defines Medical officers can be claimed active duties only as extra duties. 2. Medical officers extra duty is unique among other professionals and it mainly related with on call duties. 3. On call duty consist with active duty and also a component of passive duties which unique for Medical Officers. 4. In an on call day a medical officer has to work continuously for twenty eight hours. A. 8.00am-12.00pm Normal working hours.(4 hours) B. 12.00pm-2.00pm On call duty (extra duty).(2 hours) C. 2.00pm-4.00pm- Normal working hours.(2 hours) D. 4.00pm-8.00am- On call duty (extra duty).(16 hours) E. 8.00am-12.00pm- Normal working hours.(4 hours) 5. It means 10 normal working hours and 18 extra duty hours. 6. In an on call weekend a medical officer has to work continuously for forty eight hours. 7. It means 10 normal working hours and 38 extra duty hours. 8. Those are the longest continuous duty among other professions. 9. However, medical officers are allowed to claim only 4 hours per day. 10. That means 10 hours in an on call day and 30 hours in an on call weekend cannot be claimed. 11. Almost all peripheral institutions (units with daily admissions) there are two medical officers on call for each unit and 2nd on call doctor will be summoned for emergency situations which cannot be handled by one doctor and for transfers which needs to accompany the critically ill patients.

12. According to circular above mentioned 2nd on call doctorwill not eligible to claim extra duty if he/she was not summoned for emergency or transfer even though he/she works 18hours in an on call day and 38 hours in an on call weekend. 13. Even if medical officer not summoned to the ward in an on call he/she must be devoted for the duty because he/she cannot engage in any other personal or social events because should be in alert to come to ward immediately when summoned. Therefore, we forward following suggestion for above circular, 1. Define medical officers extra duty as a unique duty which consist with active and passive duty components. Or 2. Allow to claim all the on call hours without the restriction of 4 hours per day.