Violence against Doctors: Punjab Govt doctors prepare for agitation over lack of security measures

Chandigarh: Witnessing a series of attacks and violence against doctors at government medical colleges and hospitals which has increased after the RG Kar incident, the the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) is on the verge of agitation. 

Despite receiving assurances from the AAP-led Punjab Government for enhanced security and implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme, the doctors received no tangible action from the government. Therefore, the doctors are now planning to follow the path of agitation.

In the last two months, more than a dozen assaults have been reported at government health facilities across Punjab, most recently at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar and the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Dhakoli while others are at Dera Baba Nanak, Patiala, Jagron, Sunam, Rajpura, Ferozepur and Naushera Majha Singh. 

Also read- Punjab doctors end strike after State Government's assurance

On October 20, an intoxicated man assaulted a doctor on night duty and harassed a female colleague at Jalandhar’s civil hospital. That same night, two groups clashed at the community health centre (CHC) in Dhakoli, forcing a woman doctor and staff to lock themselves in a room for safety until police arrived.

After the intervention of the association in the incidents, the state police lodged the cases against the alleged accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Punjab Protection Medicare Services Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act.

Speaking to TNIE, Dr Akhil Sarin, president of the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association of Punjab said, "If commitment made by the government is not met within the stipulated time frame then the doctors will be forced to follow the path of agitation. On October 21, a letter was written to the state health and family welfare secretary requesting a meeting regarding a review of the implementation of security provisions."

"On September 11 the association met with the cabinet subcommittee and received a written assurance that a comprehensive security framed work at all the 24/7 centres of the state would be put in place within a week of the meeting and also the government agreed to the implementation of dynamic assured carrier progressions (DACPs) within 12 weeks of the meeting but nothing happened on the ground,’’ he added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a protest began on September 9 where the doctors suspended outpatient department services across all government facilities. However, the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) called off its ongoing strike after the state government accepted their demand. 

"After the meeting, the state health minister announced and reiterated that the assurances will be implemented within the stipulated time frame. However even after the lapse of six weeks, no on-ground steps for implementation of the assurances are perceptible," Dr Akhil added.