Hospital premises echoed with the slogan ‘Sadda Haq Aithe Rakh’, strike will continue till 11 SEP.
Senior Journalist. Amritsar/Chandigarh.
Doctors of Punjab (PCMS) have gone on strike over their pending demands. On Monday, all the government hospitals (civil hospitals) of Punjab remained on strike from 8 am to 11 am. There was no OPD, NO OPERATION SURGERY in the local Civil Hospital Amritsar, only emergency services were operational. Meanwhile, the patients coming looked quite troubled. However, the hospital administration did claim that a special team of about half a dozen doctors was deployed for emergency services, so that there is no problem of any kind.
Principal Secretary Dr Madhur Poddar, under the leadership of PCMS, started the strike in the hospital premises with the slogan ‘Sadda Haq Aithe Rakh’. All the doctors roared in unison in their support. During his address, the doctor leader said that their problems have been going on for a long time. Especially, the government is not at all concerned about security. Several rounds of meetings were held with the state health minister, but each time it was inconclusive. Therefore, they were forced to go on strike. All services except emergency services will remain closed for 3 hours in government hospitals across the state. The strike will continue in this manner till 11 September. After that, they are going to have a meeting with the state minister. The next step will be taken on the basis of the result that comes out. But, this time the mind was made up for a do-or-die fight.
Dr. Jagrup Singh said that for him the priority is the patient, but, providing security is also a fundamental right of the government. This should be accepted immediately. It is also very important to simplify the process for maximum recruitment of doctors. The work pressure has increased a lot on every doctor.
This is the main demand
1) Security is an important issue, it has been going on for a long time.
2) From promotion to allowance, there has been no increase for a long time.
3) There is often a hindrance in the monthly salary, it is very important to simplify that process.
4) The biggest concern is that for many years doctors are being recruited in very less numbers, each doctor is forced to do 5-5 additional works. The mental burden has increased.
5) Salary is not being increased according to the rules for many years. Doctors are also angry with the government regarding this.
Patients were troubled
According to an estimate, the daily OPD of Civil Hospital (Amritsar) is 3 to 4 thousand. Many patients did not even know that the doctors were going on strike on Monday. In such a situation, patient Jitendra narrated his sorrow and said that his wife is being treated in the civil hospital for a long time. When he saw that the doctors were on strike, he felt very sad. Along with the doctors, the problems of the patients should also be solved so that we are not troubled. Similarly, Nihang Tej Singh said that he has a skin problem. No one is asking about him. If the doctors have a problem, then their problem is also justified, therefore, seeing them is also a fundamental right of the doctors.