Chandigarh, Sep 9 (IANS) OPD services have been affected in the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled state of Punjab after 2,500 doctors went on strike. The doctors on strike are demanding an “assured career progression scheme”.
However, emergency and intensive care unit (ICU) staff are not involved in the strike.
After talks with the government failed, the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) decided to go on an indefinite strike. The association called for the closure of outpatient departments (OPDs) for three hours from 8 am to September 11.
At the same time, the government has appealed to the doctors to postpone the strike and has asked for some more time. PCMSA President Dr. Akhil Sarin has warned that if the government does not pay heed to their demands, then health services will be completely stopped from September 12.
“Initially, we had planned to completely suspend OPD services from September 9, but we held off on the government’s request. They asked us to wait till a meeting with the cabinet sub-committee led by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on September 11,” he said.
In the talks held between PCMSA and the government last week, demands were raised for restoration of Assured Career Progression Scheme and issuance of notification on safety provisions for health workers.
A meeting of the PCMSA with Health Minister Balbir Singh last week also failed to yield any concrete decision.
According to the PCMSA, there can be no compromise on the restoration of Assured Career Progression Scheme as it is aimed at restoring the regular pay of medical officers who have been part of the cadre since its inception. The PCMSA says the current number of doctors in the state is 2,800 against the sanctioned strength of 4,600 posts.
Security concerns are also a big issue, with the association pointing out that hundreds of primary health centres and community health centres are running without any security guards.
–IANS
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