Punjab: Doctors end strike after government accepts their demands

Punjab: Doctors have called off their strike after the government accepted their demands, including restoration of Assured Career Progression Scheme, enhanced security in healthcare establishments and filling up of vacant posts. Around 2,500 doctors were on a half-day strike since September 9 in support of their demands, resulting in medical services being affected in government establishments. A meeting was held between state Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, state government officials and representatives of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) in Chandigarh today. Several such meetings have been held in the recent past as well. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the government announced that all demands of the PCMSA have been accepted. It has been decided that the Assured Career Progression Scheme will be re-implemented unconditionally within the next 12 weeks. A 24×7 security framework for healthcare centres across the state will be announced within a week and 400 posts of medical officers will be filled by next month. Keeping in view the inconvenience caused to patients due to suspension of services, the working hours of Out Patient Departments (OPDs) will be extended by two hours beyond the regular timings on the first two days of next week. PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sareen said the association welcomes the pro-people decision of the government and firmly believes that it will go a long way in strengthening the public healthcare system in the state. Patients across Punjab were affected as work in OPDs at all public healthcare centres in the state remained suspended during the first half of the day since September 9 following a strike call by the PCMSA in support of its demands. However, emergency services and intensive care units remained operational. Over 2,500 doctors were on a daily three-hour strike demanding acceptance of their demands.

Elective or scheduled surgeries and trauma, medical examination for driving, arms licences and admissions, VIP duty, dope tests, meetings, reports and inquiries were among the services that were affected, though emergency services, life-saving surgeries, intensive care units and judicial matters continued uninterrupted. On September 11, the state government had agreed in principle to accept the doctors’ demands, but as no written order was issued in this regard on that day, the PCMSA decided to go ahead with the agitation with a full day’s strike. In a statement issued late on September 13, the PCMSA said that following the CM’s outreach, they have decided to reduce their strike by half and the modalities will be finalised by holding talks with the finance department on September 14. Deputy commissioners of all districts also held discussions with the district heads of the association as part of confidence building measures.