Career progression scheme notified, doctors call off stir

With the state government today issuing a notification for the reinstatement of the assured career progression scheme (ACP) for government doctors, the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has withdrawn its call for agitation that was to resume from January 23.

“The Finance Department agrees to grant modified ACP to medical officers,” a letter issued by the government on January 20 states. The scheme will be applicable with effect from January 1, 2025.

The scheme shall be applicable to all officers appointed before July 17, 2020, who are receiving the pay scales as per the Punjab Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2021. All other terms and conditions, as applicable prior to July 1, 2021, under the previous ACP scheme for these medical officers, shall also be applicable under the fresh scheme.

According to details of the scheme released today, the entry pay scale at level-18 will be Rs 56,100. Five-year service will place them at level-21 with Rs 67,400 pay, while 10-year service will place them at level-23 with Rs 83,600 pay. After 15-year service, the medical officers will move to level-27 with a pay of Rs 1,22,800.

Since the pay matrix and the pay levels under the Seventh Central Pay Commission and the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission are different, the scheme for the medical officers recruited on or after July 17, 2020, will be decided separately.

In a statement, Dr Akhil Sarin, president of the PCMSA, said the reinstatement of the ACP would go a long way in retaining doctors in the department and eventually strengthen the public healthcare system in the state.

The association appreciated the Health Department’s efforts in recruiting 304 medical officers and rationalising the policy to attract young doctors into the PCMS cadre.