Punjab: Health Minister will meet doctors on strike today

Punjab: After the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) called for resuming the statewide suspension of services at hospitals and health centres in support of their demands, a meeting has been scheduled between Health Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and representatives of the association on Tuesday to discuss the issue. The PCMSA said it will resume the call for suspension of medical services from January 20 as the government has failed to issue a notification implementing their demands even after 16 weeks of assuring to do so in September 2024.

PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sareen said though the state has a shortage of 54 per cent medical specialists and 43 per cent medical officers, over 80 doctors have resigned in the last one year due to their service conditions and remuneration. Restoring the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme for doctors, meeting the huge shortage of medical officers, specialists and paramedics, and providing adequate safety measures at health centres were their key demands.