Patiala, January 4- Doctors of Punjab under the banner of Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) will go on strike from January 20 to protest against the non-implementation of their demands even after nearly three months of written assurances from the state government.
This decision was taken in the general body meeting of the association. During the meeting, disappointment and protest was expressed over the delay in fulfilling the commitments related to career progression and safety arrangements at the workplace.
After the meeting, PCMSA President Dr. Akhil Sareen said that the association discussed the major issues affecting public health care, including the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) which has been stalled since July 1, 2021. Dr. Sareen said that despite several assurances given by Punjab ministers and health officials during the September 2024 meetings, no concrete progress has been made. The written promises, which include implementing the security framework within a week and restoring DACPS within 12 weeks, have not been fulfilled even after 16 weeks have passed.
Dr Sareen further said that the dharna was called off and services were restored after the government's assurance in September, but due to the government not resolving the issues within the stipulated time, there is a lot of anger among the medical officers across Punjab and in many places many specialists are resigning from government services and leaving the hospital. He warned the Punjab government that if both the demands of security and career progression are not implemented, then OPD services will be stopped from January 20 and dharna will be held again.
He said that the association has also called the next policy meeting of all the district units on January 12. He also clarified that the association is an organization working in the interest of the people. Security in hospitals is not only for doctors but also for every staff and patients visiting there because it is necessary to have security guards in hospitals to prevent incidents of theft of patients' belongings.
He said that the state government should abandon its indifferent attitude towards the demands of the doctors and immediately implement the accepted demands without any delay.