Patiala, December 7: Punjab Civil Medical Services Association President Dr. Akhil Sareen has said that the Punjab government has taken action in response to two major demands of the association and has asked the Finance Department to assess the potential financial impact on the exchequer on the issue of restoring the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme. The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has been pressuring the government since July 1, 2021, for the restoration of the pending ACP scheme and other demands. The ACP scheme provides financial benefits to doctors after four, nine and fourteen years of service.
The PCMSA had started a strike in September this year regarding its demands. Other demands of the doctors include addressing the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff and ensuring safety of medical professionals. During a meeting with the Cabinet Sub-Committee including Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh in September, the protesting doctors were assured in writing that the ACP scheme would be restored within 12 weeks. Recently, the Finance Department had asked the Health Department to provide details of doctors pending under the ACP scheme after July 2021. 
The Health Department was also directed to estimate the financial burden of restoring the scheme. Dr. Sareen said that the state government has recently recruited 309 doctors and a draft of the postgraduate policy has also been prepared, but no concrete steps have been taken yet on the major demand of safety of doctors, especially those working night duty.