Senior journalist, Amritsar.
For the second day too, Punjab government doctors (PCMS) remained on strike over their pending demands. All the doctors of Jallianwala Bagh Shahidi Smarak Civil Hospital left their work at 8 am and went on strike. The total number was 40. All the services except emergency services were stopped till 11 am. A unanimous slogan was raised, Sadda Haq Athe Rakh, Bhagwant Mann Sarkar…. Nearly 600 patients returned home in frustration. Everyone said that why are they suffering in the ongoing conflict between the doctors and the government, in this they will have to answer to the common people and the patients coming to them. There will be a meeting with the state health department on September 11. If any result comes out of the meeting, then it is fine, otherwise a plan has been prepared to go on a 6-hour strike in the next strategy.
The most important demand has been made regarding the safety of the doctors. On Tuesday, when the clock of the government hospital of Punjab struck 8, all the striking doctors gathered together showing mutual unity. All sat on strike in the hospital premises. Anger against the government was visible on everyone’s faces, because, the demands are legitimate and also pending for a long time. No government is ready to accept them. Every government has done nothing except giving assurances to these doctors. Now the doctors have also made up their mind that they will not leave until they get their rights, they are not ready to accept anything less than that.
Top members of PCMS Dr. Jagroop Singh, Dr. Paramveer Singh Sidhu, Dr. Madhur Poddar told that for the last 10 years, their demand for security has been ignored every time. They have only got false assurances. All their demands are completely legitimate. There is a huge shortage of staff. No one is ready to appoint a doctor. Additional work is being taken from each doctor. There is mental pressure on them. The government is careless, but the state government is not listening to their calls. Therefore, they are forced to take the path of struggle. If any positive result comes out after the meeting with the minister on the 11th, then it is fine, otherwise a strike of 6 hours will be held every day.
On the other hand, the patients remained quite troubled on the second day as well. About 600 patients were forced to return home without getting their treatment done. Anger and resentment were visible on everyone’s face. But, in a hushed voice, they only said that what is their fault that they have to suffer. The government should accept the doctors’ demands as legitimate and save them from suffering. They have only one civil hospital for treatment.
Know, which services remained operational
It has already been decided that during the strike, some facilities like emergency, women specialist, legal medicine, will not be allowed to be obstructed in any way. These three services remained operational in the civil hospital. After 11 o’clock, the closed services like OPD were again restored as usual. But, the number of patients was nominal then. If this continues, then the concern of patients may increase in the coming days. For this, the government will have to take appropriate steps.
These are the main demands
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 are many obstacles in the monthly salary, it is very important to simplify that process.
4) The biggest matter of concern is that for many years, doctors are being recruited in very less numbers, each doctor is being 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.