Medical, dental teachers expect better deal from next state government

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 7

Medical and dental teachers working at government medical and dental colleges in Punjab are expecting a better deal from the next state government.

In a joint press release, president HS Sohal and general secretary DS Bhullar of the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association said: “The previous government failed to accept even a single demand of the medical and dental teachers in spite of our best efforts for more than five years. The government totally ignored our genuine demands leading to a strong protest and demoralisation in the medical fraternity of the state government”.

The medical teachers are demanding better working conditions in the hospitals. Their promotion channels at present are totally blocked. Some teachers are working on the same posts since years. Policy needs to be drafted for regular promotion of the medical and dental teachers under the state government, which is already there in private institutes as per the MCI regulations. The guidelines of the Medical Council of India, a statutory body to run the affairs and medical teaching in the country, must be followed in toto in medical colleges under the Punjab government. Stake holders and representatives of the medical teachers should be involved in decision making in the matters concerning medical teachers and medical education in the state. The government should open more medical 

colleges, along with taking back its college at Jalandhar (PIMS) now in private hands.

At present, government doctors are heavily burdened with income tax with three months’ salary being paid in the form of income tax, a total injustice and being ignored. The state government must facilitate to lessen the burden of this heavy income tax and make a uniform policy for the salaried and business class. The report of the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission must be released immediately without any discrimination with the medical and dental teachers.

The medical education and health should be given top priority in the interest of sick people for affordable best health services.