Punjab: Govt to give 25 percent as NPA to medical officers

Chandigarh: The Punjab government agreed to pay newly-appointed medical officers (MBBS) an additional 25 per cent as non practicing allowance (NPA) along with their basic pay during their probation period.

The decision was taken after Health Minister Surjeet Kumar Jyani took up the matter with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa here, an official release said.

Later on, the government agreed to pay 25 per cent NPA along-with the basic pay of MBBS doctors during the probation.

The move would encourage more doctors to join the government service, Jyani said.

Any new appointee in the government service is given only the basic pay during the probation period as per the policy of the Punjab government, the release said, adding the same was also applicable on the Medical Officers (MBBS) joining the regular government service in Punjab.

However the specialists were already exempted under this policy, it added.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the state government was struggling to find qualified medical officers, since it came out with a new scheme to ,that involved only Rs 15,600 as the initial salary for the two-year probation period for MBBS doctors.

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