Punjab: Doctors call of strike after written assurance; OPDs to open from tomorrow

“The demands included implementation of assured career progression (ACP) which will be completed in a time-bound manner within 12 weeks. Framework at all healthcare centres which are operational 24×7 in the state will be announced within a week. To beat the shortage of doctors, 400 posts of medical officers will also be filled next month,” he said.

As part of the protest that began on September 9, outpatient department services at all government facilities had been suspended.
During the meeting, the minister appealed to the doctors to call off the protest, saying patients were facing hardships.
He also assured them that there was no paucity of funds for the department. Therefore, there will not be any hindrances in implementing the approved demands of the PCMSA, he said.

The minister said patient welfare was the foremost objective of the Bhagwant Mann government and no one should suffer due to lack of treatment.

The minister said although the cabinet sub-committee has already agreed to the demands, he reassured the doctors that the dynamic assured career progression (DACP) scheme would be restored soon.

Around 2,500 government doctors had been holding protests for the past several days to press for their demands, including reinstatement of the ACP scheme, seeking adequate security measures for healthcare professionals and recruitment of more doctors.

The ACP scheme provides financial benefits and higher pay scales to government employees.