PCMSA strike: OPD remains suspended for entire day, patients harried
OPD services remained suspended for the entire day at all public health centres in the district including the civil hospital, CHCs and sub-divisional hospitals in the continued strike called for by the PCMS Association (PCMSA). Patients faced much inconvenience as health services remained paralysed at all government medical facilities in response to the call.
Excepting the emergency services, all medical and OPD services remained suspended for the day.
Patients approaching the largest civil hospital in the state — at Jalandhar — were met with boards at the pharmacy and OPD bearing words 'Doctors are on strike' and PCMSA posters of 'Doctor Unity Zindabad'.
Various patients approaching the civil hospital had to return disappointed amid the dharna even as the usually busy hospital wore a deserted look.
The doctors' key demands include, security provisions, promotions and more hiring against vacant posts, among others. Doctors of the PCMSA said they were in constant touch with the government over the issue, however, the lack of a response had forced them to continue the dharna.
Doctors of the PCMSA sat on dhurries outside the medical superintendent’s office at the civil hospital.
A PCMS doctor said, "The dharna is progressing in a phased manner. For the last three days, we were holding half day dharnas. It's time for a full day dharna in which OPD, medical and other non-essential services will remain suspended. Emergency services will be available. For the next three days, this will be the routine. After that, a meeting will be held wherein the future strategy will be devised."
Doctors added, "We are also in talks with senior authorities including the Director, Health Secretary, Health and Finance Ministers with whom meets were also held but no concrete solution could be obtained. We would have called off the strike if our demands were met. No notification addressing our demands has been issued as yet. We are also fighting for patients' security. As long as there is no written assurance, the strike will continue. Our key demands include, recruitment of new doctors and provision of security to them. Around 50 per cent of the posts of doctor are empty. Peripheral stations only have one doctors. How can they be expected to work in both the morning and the evening shift?"
