Read Disruptive Doctors Co-Founder Dr. Vivek Subramaniam’s guidance on how doctors could avoid the problem of smaller chain GP clinics not making the relevant statutory payments on behalf of their employees…
A Renewed Thinking Among Doctors
According to Dr. Vivek Subramaniam, doctors must undertake certain steps to ensure that they don’t find themselves in similar situations. The Disruptive Doctors Co-Founder advises that:
- Doctors be selective about the GP clinics they opt to work with. Adequate research must be done to find out about the background of the company and the owner of the business. A doctor’s decision to join a GP clinic must be based on sound decision-making.
- Younger doctors need to see their jobs in private clinics as a stepping stone to building their career rather than just as a means to an end. This requires that they look at their career from a long-term perspective. When they have a clear career pathway in mind, they will know to apply for the right jobs and the right clinics.
- This will also ensure the right fit between the places they work at and their long-term career plans. They must also have an idea of what’s next for them once they leave the GP clinic.
- Doctors must also be profession-proud and seek job security. This implies that they be willing to wait a month or two until the right job comes along. It is foolhardy to jump into the first job that comes along without adequate research. These rash, desperate decisions, give some employers the idea that they could potentially take advantage of such employees.
Red Flags to Look Out for When Joining Smaller Chain GP Clinics:
- Dr. Vivek suggests that doctors planning to join a GP clinic speak with other doctors who have worked before at that particular clinic. This is to gain a sense of the place, the people, and their general ethics. Doing prior research is crucial. If something does not feel right, listen to that intuition. It is a red flag.
- If a doctor is employed at a particular clinic, it is advisable that he/she check the first salary slip he/she receives. If everything seems in order on the salary slip, make certain to follow up with calls to the relevant organizations to ensure that statutory payments are being made. Should those organizations not receive the stipulated payments, this is a definite red flag.
- It is prudent to ask colleagues in the same clinic as to whether statutory contributions have been made on their behalf by the management. If a handful of doctors respond that that is not the case, this is a red flag.
According to Dr. Vivek, the GP practices in the country are a small fraternity. Word gets around concerning errant clinics. In the long run, bad conduct will tarnish the reputation of the clinics involved. A tarnished reputation is difficult to build back.
In the meantime, young doctors would do well to research on GP clinics before joining them. It would also serve doctors well to have a long-term career plan for their lives so that the right employment choices can be made.
If you or someone you know has had a similar experience, do let us know at Disruptive Doctors. Your experience could help someone else avoid such problems.
