PAY SCALES OF MEDICAL DOCTORS IN ARMED FORCES AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES AFTER SIXTH PAY COMMISSION

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

BY COL K D MENON AMC (RETD)

Doctors in Central Government exist both in organized as well as outside organized services. The three organized health and medical services are Central Health
Service, Indian Railway Medical Service and Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service. Various CPMFs also have a cadre of Medical Officers. Defence Forces have an Armed
Forces Medical Service. The pay scales of Medical Doctors in Central Govt is defined in “GOI, Min of Health and Family Welfare, CHS Division, OM No F.No.A.45012/2/2008-
CHS.V dated 29th October 2008: Subject – Extension of Dynamic Assured career Progression (DACP) up to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) level in respect of Medical and
Dental Doctors in the Central Government”. On the other hand, the pay scales of Doctors in the Armed Forces is given in Special Army Instruction (SAI) No 2/S/08 dated 11th
October 2008 and amended by Corrigendum to SAI 3/S/08 dated 10th December 2008 and Amendment to SAI 2/S/08 dated 21th April 2009.

There have been voices urging the MoD to implement the DACP in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) as well. This will have implications in the very
structure of the organisation. The AFMS is not an independent body. It exists because the Armed Forces exist. Though not a mere appendage, the relationship is well
defined and time tested. There is therefore no need to modify it. This is the perception of the author, who is of the opinion that deliberations on this aspect be left to more
knowledgeable people.

After perusal of the two orders, the pay scales of the two branches, (so as to say), is denoted below in a tabular form. Liberty has been taken in making the
following assumptions:

It represents a new entrant.

The new entrant is a General Duty Doctor, who does not specialise in his career.

No promotions have been awarded other than assured progression, (SAG for Govt Doctors and Colonel for AFMS).

Pay has not been increased by two increments at each stage of progression.
 2

AFMS DOCTORS GOVT DOCTORS

YEARS OF BASIC PAY GRADE PAY MILITARY NON TOTAL BASIC PAY GRADE NON TOTAL
SERVICE SPECIAL PRACTISING PAY PRACTISING
PAY ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE

01 19290 6100 6000 7850 39240 15600 5400 5250 26250

02 19870 6100 6000 7990 39960 16070 5400 5370 26840

03 20470 6100 6000 8140 40710 16560 5400 5490 27450

04 21090 6100 6000 8300 41490 17060 5400 5615 28075

05 21730 6600 6000 8580 42860 17580 6600 6045 30225

06 22390 6600 6000 8750 43740 18110 6600 6180 30890

07 23070 6600 6000 8920 44590 18660 6600 6315 31575

08 23770 6600 6000 9090 45460 19220 6600 6455 32275

09 24490 6600 6000 9270 46360 19800 6600 6600 33000

10 25230 6600 6000 9460 47290 20400 7600 7000 35000

 3

AFMS DOCTORS GOVT DOCTORS

YEARS OF BASIC PAY GRADE PAY MILITARY NON TOTAL BASIC PAY GRADE NON TOTAL
SERVICE SPECIAL PRACTISING PAY PRACTISING
PAY ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE

11 37400 8000 6000 12850 64250 21020 7600 7155 35775

12 38530 8000 6000 13130 65660 21650 7600 7320 36570

13 39690 8000 6000 13420 67110 22300 7600 7475 37375

14 40890 8000 6000 13720 68610 37400 8700 11525 57625

15 42120 8000 6000 14030 70150 38530 8700 11800 59030

16 43390 8000 6000 14350 71740 39690 8700 12100 60490

17 44700 8000 6000 14670 73370 40890 8700 12400 61990

18 46050 8000 6000 15010 75060 42120 8700 12705 63525

19 47440 8000 6000 15360 76800 43390 8700 13020 65110

20 48870 8000 6000 15710 78500 44700 8700 13350 66740

 4

AFMS DOCTORS GOVT DOCTORS

YEARS OF BASIC PAY GRADE PAY MILITARY NON TOTAL BASIC PAY GRADE NON TOTAL
SERVICE SPECIAL PRACTISING PAY PRACTISING
PAY ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE

21 50340 8000 6000 16080 80420 46050 10000 14010 70040

22 51850 8000 6000 16460 82310 47440 10000 14350 71760

23 53410 8000 6000 16850 84260 48870 10000 14710 73550

24 55010 8000 6000 17430 87140 50340 10000 15080 75390

85000
25 56660 8700 6000 17840 89200 51850 10000 15455 77275

85000
26 58360 8700 6000 18260 91320 53410 10000 15845 79225

85000
27 60110 8700 6000 18700 93510 55010 10000 16245 81225

85000
28 61920 8700 6000 19150 95770 56660 10000 16660 83290

85000
29 63780 8700 6000 19620 98100 58360 10000 17090 85420

85000 85000
30 65700 8700 6000 20100 100500 60110 10000 17520 87600

85000 85000
 5

AFMS DOCTORS GOVT DOCTORS

YEARS OF BASIC PAY GRADE PAY MILITARY NON TOTAL BASIC PAY GRADE NON TOTAL
SERVICE SPECIAL PRACTISING PAY PRACTISING
PAY ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE

31 67000 8700 6000 20420 102120 61890 10000 17980 89870

85000 85000
32 63750 10000 18440 92190

85000
33 65670 10000 18920 94590

85000
34 67000 10000 10250 96250

85000

(Figures in italics dente the arithmetic total, whereas the permissible total, 85000, is given below)

The relevant deductions are:

o The total emoluments accruing to an AFMS doctor is more than his counterpart in the Central Govt services, throughout his career.
o An AFMS doctor reaches his maximum permissible emoluments at 24 years of service, whereas a govt doctor does so in his 29th year. [The maximum
permissible emoluments is 85000, the pay in HAG + scale. Only the Cabinet Secretary, COAS, CNS & CAS gets more.]

As far as seniority is concerned, does it really matter? It would be pertinent to note that getting a SAG pay grade does not make one a Joint Secretary to the GOI. That will be
a different story,

IS DACP BETTER OR SAI?