Sixth Pay Commission: Punjab Govt-doctor talks fail, strike on

Chandigarh, June 28

With the talks between doctors and the government failing to yield any results, the former have announced to intensify the protest.

As part of their call for strike, the doctors earlier paralysed the OPD services in various hospitals. The doctors are protesting against the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendation on de-linking of the NPA with basic pay.

Himachal doctors go on 2-hr pen-down strike to protest against reduction of NPA in Punjab

The call of strike has been given by the Joint Punjab Government Doctors’ Coordination Committee, which has members, including Punjab Civil Medical Services’ Association and Punjab State Veterinary Officers’ Association, Punjab Medical Teachers’ Association, Rural Medical Officers’ Association, Punjab Dental Medical Officers’ Association and Punjab Ayurveda Officers’ Association. Earlier, the government invited the doctors for negotiations to resolve the issue. Principal Secretary Health Hussan Lal said the government was reviewing the recommendation and requested the doctors to end their strike and join the work but the Joint Punjab Government Doctors’ Coordination Committee refused to accept any assurance less than a meeting with a full committee constituted by the Chief Minister.

In the afternoon, another session of negotiations was held. The government was represented by Principal Secretary (Finance) KAP Sinha but that too remained inconclusive.

After the meeting, the association held a press conference at Convention Centre, Dr Gagandeep Singh President of the PCMS Association alleged the government wanted to destroy the public healthcare system by making the government job for doctors less lucrative. He said in the coming days they would intensify their agitation and the government was responsible for suffering of the common public. — TNS

State-level stir in Bathinda on July 11

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