Punjab: Doctors’ strike on the call of Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) continued as their meeting with Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh today did not yield any result. “Our demands on security and assured career progression (ACP) scheme are not negotiable. In the absence of the expected letter from the government, OPD operations will remain closed on September 13 as well,” said a representative of the protesting doctors. The written assurances issued by the government in this regard late last evening were discussed in detail in the PCMSA general body meeting. All the district heads were of the opinion that the assurances given by the government “are not in line with the meaningful action of the Cabinet sub-committee”. The meeting “passed a unanimous resolution expressing dissatisfaction over the unnecessary delay in restoration of ACP scheme and improvement in security arrangements”.
PCMSA state president Dr Akhil Sareen said their demands were approved in the meeting with the Cabinet sub-committee yesterday and the members agreed to restore the ACP scheme. He said, “However, we will not return to work until the government gives it in writing.” Meanwhile, a large number of patients, including children and the elderly, faced inconvenience due to the doctors’ all-day strike (8 am to 2 pm) at the Sangrur Civil Hospital on Thursday. However, the emergency ward of the hospital continued to function normally. On normal days, more than 1,100 patients are examined in various OPDs of this hospital, but in the last three days this number has reduced considerably. So far, only 70 patients have been issued OPD slips. In Ludhiana, OPD services in various hospitals remained suspended due to the strike. In the last three days, the OPD was operational for three hours daily (11 am to 2 pm), but on Thursday there was no work in the OPD.
