PCMS docs start protest week over rural service

The Punjab PCMS Association carried out a protest rally in Ludhiana Tuesday as part of its protest week to air grievances about the increase in the number of years of compulsory service in rural areas for PCMS-cadre doctors.

The Punjab PCMS Association carried out a protest rally in Ludhiana Tuesday as part of its protest week to air grievances about the increase in the number of years of compulsory service in rural areas for PCMS-cadre doctors.

President of the association,Dr Hardeep Singh,said: When the doctors had cleared the test,three years compulsory service in rural areas was the policy and now it has been increased to six years. So doctors are refusing to join. In addition to this,scale of a specialist is equal to MBBS doctor. One PG increment is the only attraction.

Two months back,111 specialists and 141 MBBS doctors had been given appointment letters but none joined the Punjab health centres,which are facing acute shortage of doctors.

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As per figures available from PCMS Association,26 percent of general duty doctors and 38 percent of specialist posts are lying vacant.

The PCMS doctors are also protesting pay scale disparity with Centre jobs as well as promotions. While the Centre assures promotion after two and six years,Punjab gives out promotions after 4,9 and 14 years, said Dr Sachin Goel,general secretary of PCMS association.

Health minister Madan Mohan Mittal also admitted that they need to re-formulate their PG policy to allure doctors.

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