Thursday, June 2, 2011

Doctors Society of Nepal (DSON):Manifesto

Doctors Society of Nepal
(DSON)
Background:
It is a state obligation to provide laws and regulations and, where necessary, structure and organizations that ensure health and medical care is provided to all people without discrimination. DSON is created to work for the highest possible standards of ethical behavior and healthcare by doctors. It is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit making professional association of the medical doctors of Nepal. DSON strives for enhancing the quality of the health care that will best serve our people. DSON provides a forum for its members to communicate freely, to co-operate actively, to achieve professional competence, and to promote the professional security.

Objective: 
To address the professional rights, academic needs and challenges faced by medical doctors.
Mission:
To empower doctors for providing quality healthcare to our people.
To advocate for professional rights and support Medical Doctors by coordinating with the Ministry of Health and Population (MOH), Department of Health Services (DoHS), Nepal Medical Council (NMC), Nepal Medical Association (NMA), Medical Universities and, other health related institutions and organizations.
To strengthen professional alliance among Nepalese Doctors around the world.

Membership:
Membership to DSON is voluntary and it is offered to all Nepalese medical doctors residing inside and outside the country, and practicing in private or public sector health institutions. This includes all the doctors registered in the Nepal Medical Council as provisional, temporary and permanent (Specialists, Residents, Medical Officers, Dental Doctors and Interns).
Current Issues:
  1. Improving salary and allowances: It should be according to World Health Organization (WHO) standard. The salary should be revised every year and should be according to level of qualification and duration of service.
  2. Defining working hours: The WHO standard of 40 hrs a week should be strictly implemented and extra duty should be paid accordingly.
  3. Free Treatment for Doctors: It is shame that doctors who work days and nights for the country have to pay for their own treatment. All doctors and their families should have the provision of free treatment. Government should bear for those doctors who work in public sector while respective health institution should bear for other doctors.
  4. Improving the working condition of Doctors: Our government is advertising that doctors are now posted to the rural setting in all parts of the country and free health service is provided up to district level. But the condition of health institution has not improved at all. There should be a good provision of infrastructure, medical equipments (X-ray, USG, Lab,) and manpower to use them.
  5. Social Dignity: Medical expertise should be recognized by the state as a specialized technical skill and doctors should be honored with extra facilities for their dignified humanitarian service.
  6. Social Security: Working environment should be health friendly with supported social security.
  7. Post Graduation and Career Development: There should be a provision of open seats and seats for the government doctors in all medical colleges of Nepal. Study and training should be provided according to merit base considering rural services.
  8. Medical Education: Currently, many medical colleges have been established without international standard. It is good that the higher medical education is available inside the country but the quality of education should be maintained with respect to curriculum and institutional standard (infrastructure and specialized manpower).
  9. Academic and Research Environment: Doctors should get an opportunity to attend in CME and various clinical and public health trainings unbiased. They should be provided with an annual fund from the government to conduct a research.
  10. Increasing posts of Doctors in government services: The number of doctors in government services should be added according to the population ratio and geographic distribution. There should be new recruitment of Medical Officers and Consultants (Specialist and Super-specialist) in a large number to strengthen quality services.
  11. Aayurveda and Homeopathy: Only the medical doctors registered in NMC should be allowed to practice allopathic medicine. Aayurvedic and Homeopathic professionals should practice under a separate wing under Ministry of Health and Population. They should be posted to respective institutions of Aayurveda and Homeopathy. They should not be given right to practice allopathic medicine.