Doctors’ strike enters 2nd day in Tarn Taran

The OPD services remained suspended for the first half at the Civil Hospital and the subdivision-level public health centres here on Tuesday. The agitating doctors staged a dharna at the Civil Hospital complex.

Addressing the protesters on the occasion, Dr Surinder Kumar, district president, Dr Sukhjinder Singh, Dr Jaspreet Singh Patti, Dr Jatinder Singh, Dr Jatinder Kaur and other office-bearers of the Punjab Civil Medical Services’ Association (PCMSA), condemned the state government for its indifferent attitude towards the genuine demands of the medical officers.

They said from the second phase, planned from September 12 onwards, there would be a complete closure of the OPD services and suspension of related services.

The leaders of the PCMSA made it clear that their demand for the reinstatement of the Assured Career Progression scheme was absolutely not negotiable and will serve as the pivot around which the whole struggle will revolve as it aims to restore the regular salary of the medical officers.

The leaders further said that the PCMSA has once again conveyed that till the time the demands, specifically the ACP and security arrangements are materialised through the required notifications, the call for the indefinite suspension of services will stay as the cadre now looks well poised for a decisive battle ahead.

Civil Surgeon Dr Gurpreet Singh Rai, in a meeting with officials, including SMOs, said the strike of the PCMSA would not affect the routine medical services in the district as proper arrangement have been made to run the OPDs and even the operation of needy patients are being done in routine.