Punjab docs begin 3-day strike, patients suffer

The government doctors in Punjab on Monday suspended outpatient department (OPD) services for three hours across the state to press for their demands, including reinstatement of the assured career progression scheme and adequate security measures for healthcare workers.

The protest, being held under the banner of Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association, will continue till September 11 in district and sub-divisional hospitals, and community health centres, said the protesting doctors.

Many patients visiting these government hospitals were inconvenienced as the OPD services remained suspended from 8 am to 11 am. However, emergency services continued.

Patients in huge number reached the hospital as usual and kept on waiting for the OPDs to start working. OPD was full to the brim and patients kept on waiting for the doctors to reach their consultation rooms. Many left without consulting the doctors and many had to go back after the OPD time was over.

Ankit Rana, came to visit the medicine doctor after taking leave from his work.

“It generally takes half day whenever I come to the hospital but upon reaching here, I came to know that OPD will start at 11 am. Left with no other option, I waited till the OPD opened as I can’t take leave from work every day,” he said.

Another patient, Raj Kumar from Shimlapuri, had come with his son who was suffering from high fever. “My son got fever last night. Although I have given him precautionary dose but still the fever is not going. He is crying but I had to wait till the doctor sees him,” he said.

Shobha Rani from Tajpur Road: “I will consult some private doctor because even if I wait, my turn will not come,” she said.

Similarly, Harish Lal from Shivpuri, after waiting for an hour decided to go back due to huge rush. “I am not feeling well and seeing this huge rush and chaos, my health is deteriorating further. I will come back tomorrow early,” he said.

Meanwhile, patients, who came for a check-up at Mata Kaushalya Hospital in Patiala faced inconvenience due to the suspended OPD services.

Sukhdev Singh, who came to the hospital from Devigarh, said he came to know about the strike after reaching there.  He said he had come for an eye check-up.

In Hoshiarpur, local resident Harpreet Singh had brought his father Sukhwinder Singh to a government hospital for treatment of his swollen leg.

Unaware of the doctors' strike, Harpreet said he found himself helpless. Due to financial constraints,  he could not afford private medical treatment and had no choice but to wait for the strike to end, he added.

Another patient, Malti Marwaha (48) from Vijay Nagar in Hoshiarpur, shared a similar experience.

She came to the hospital to get her eyes checked, only to learn about the doctors' strike.

"I do not know why the government doctors are on strike, but the government should make necessary arrangements to ensure that poor patients who rely on government health institutions do not suffer," she rued.

Vijay Kumar Behal (70) of Sham Chaurasi, who travelled 22 km to the hospital for depression treatment, was equally disappointed.

"The government should inform people in advance about the strike by healthcare staff, so patients do not waste time coming to government health institutions," he said.

A meeting between PCMS Association's representatives and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has been fixed for Wednesday.

The association has warned that if no significant outcome emerges from the meeting and the promotion-related notification is not issued, it will begin a complete strike of all services from Thursday.