The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), the single largest body of medical consultants from the city is set to launch 'Consultant Benefit Scheme' for the benefit of the spouses of deceased or disabled consultants by an accident or any other tragic event.

The scheme that would seek to compensate the family of the deceased or disabled consultants would be launched on the occasion of World Doctor's Day on July 1, 2004.

The scheme, the first such initiative for medical consultants in Mumbai, would work as a compensatory package given that the profession is devoid of any privileges like the Provident Fund (PF), Privilege Leave (PL), Casual Leave (CL), Sick Leave (SL) and other benefits that are readily provided to other government servants.

Explaining the scheme, Dr Sudha Sheth, president, Association of Medical Consultants says that the scheme would be floated with the co-operation from fellow-colleagues wherein it would serve as a compensatory package for the spouses and family of the deceased and severely disabled members.

"As yet we are still to decide the actual amount to be collected from our members in event of a tragedy, but it might be either Rs 250 or Rs 500," said Dr Sheth. She said that the association hopes to register a minimum of 500 members on the first day of the launch of the scheme. For those involved in the founding of the scheme would be given 50 per cent discount on the joining fees and will not have to pay any amount after 20 years of their contributions.

Based on the age groups of the consultants, the association would be levying different charges as joining fees ranging from Rs 3000 for members of the age group 25-30 to Rs 10,000 and above for senior members above the age 60.

"We hope to have an initial corpus of around Rs 5-10 lakh to begin with, which would come by way of collecting the registration fees from the members," said Dr Sheth. "While those in the age group of 30 would pay around Rs 3000, the seniors may have to pay as much as Rs 10,000 and above if the age is above 60. An for those in age bracket of 70-75, payment could be Rs 15,000 and doctors above 75 years may have to pay around Rs 20,000," said Dr Sheth.

The actual rehabilitation might start only after a year after enough corpus has been accumulated from the members, stated Dr Sheth.