‘Are we in Pakistan’, asks AAP MLA over shortage of doctors in Moga district

The Aam Aadmi Party government on Tuesday came under fire from its own legislators over the condition of state-run hospitals, with Dharamkot legislator Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose in a stinging remark asking the health minister if his constituency was “part of Pakistan”.

Seeking fair allocation of doctors across the state, the legislator criticised Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh for insufficient allocation of newly recruited doctors in his home district Moga visa-a-vis Malerkotla.

“Out of newly recruited 225 doctors, we have been given just four doctors in contrast to 28 deputed in Malerkotla. Do we live in Pakistan? Are we not part of Punjab,” he said seeking a time-bound action on his demand.

Before Dhose, AAP’s Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh countered the health minister’s claim of posting doctors and para medical staff in Sector 69 and Saneta village dispensaries.

After the completion of the construction work at the dispensaries, the MLA has been for the last few months seeking the posting of staff. Upon the minister stating that the staff had been posted, the MLA asked the minister to verify it.

Similarly, Shutrana MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar pointed towards three hospitals in his constituency lack doctors.

Congress Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Laddi too joined the league, pointing out that there were no doctors in three hospitals in his constituency.

Congress Phagwara legislator Balwinder Dhaliwal pointed towards student ratio formula in the posting of recently promoted teachers. He said due to the faulty formula, over 600 teachers had given up their promotions as postings were given at faraway places. Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Manprreet Ayali raised the issue of shortage of principals in government colleges.