Doctors to resume agitation on Jan 20

The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) today said it will resume its agitation from January 20 as the government has failed to implement their demands despite assurances to do so in September last year.

In a statement today, the PCMSA said the talks between the Finance Department and association's representatives had not produced any tangible results.

The PCMSA would announce a detailed programme of its agitation, involving about 2,500 doctors across the state, at Moga on January 19, it said.

Their demands include restoration of the assured career progression scheme, round-the-clock security at all healthcare establishments in the state and filling of a large number of posts of medical officers and specialists.

Members of the PCMSA had proceeded on a week-long agitation in September last year, suspending medical services and other routine work, except emergency cases and court hearings. The protest was called off after intervention by the Chief Minister and assurances by the state government for implementing their demands in a time-bound manner. The notifications in this regard are still to be issued.17