Health Minister to meet doctors over strike call today

Following a call by the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) to resume state-wide suspension of services in hospitals and health centres in support of their demands, a meeting has been scheduled between Health Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and association representatives on Tuesday to discuss the issue

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The PCMSA said it would resume the call for suspension of medical services from January 20 as the government had failed to issue notifications implementing their demands even 16 weeks after it assured to do so in September 2024.

PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sarin said although the state was facing a shortage of 54 per cent medical specialists and 43 per cent medical officers, over 80 doctors had resigned over the past year due to their service conditions and remunerations.

Restoration of the dynamic assured career progression (DACP) scheme for doctors, making up the large deficiency of medical officers, specialists and paramedics and provision of adequate security measures at health centres were their key demands.