Punjab Civil Medical Services Association opposes recruitment of Retired Doctors at Mohalla Clinics

Ludhiana: The Punjab government's flagship mohalla clinics project under the National Health Mission (NHM) has come under fire after the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association expressed their reservation about retired senior doctors applying for the posts at the 'mohalla clinics', as it leaves less chance for young doctors to opt for the same posts.

Under the mohalla clinic project, the doctors are to be deputed on a contractual basis. The newly graduated MBBS doctors have opposed the recruiting process and are complaining about retired PCMS doctors applying for the said posts, alleging that it would leave less chance for them to secure the same post.

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The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) have shown their support for young doctors. The association members said that the government is not hiring any new doctors, and if retired doctors take up the NHM post, the newly graduated MBBS doctors would become jobless or would have to work in private hospitals on meagre salaries, reports the Hindustan Times.

PCMSA state vice-president Dr Vishavdeep Goyal said, "We have categorically reiterated that PCMSA will oppose any kind of contractual hiring of doctors. All posts should be filled solely through the regular PCMS cadre channel, starting with those lying vacant at the already existing health institutions. However, if the government still goes ahead with its plans of contractual hiring, preference should be given to young, newly passed out candidates. Only when the posts remain unfilled after exhausting the younger applicants, should the posts be offered to the senior retired doctors."

Dr Akhil Sarin, state president of the PCMSA, said, "We already have a widespread network of secondary healthcare centres, primary healthcare centres and community healthcare centres, which have been providing service in even the remotest areas of the state. Around 1,000 posts of medical officers are lying vacant across the state. On top of it, the current budgetary allocation to health seems to be grossly inadequate and certainly not in sync with the government's line of commitment to the public health sector."

Stating that they would oppose all forms of contractual hiring of doctors and demanding the filling of posts through the regular PCMS cadre channel, PCMSA state president Dr Akhil Sarin told the Times of India, "The government should start with filling posts lying vacant at the already existing health institutions, however, the government still goes ahead with its plans of contractual hiring, preference should be given to the young, newly passed out candidates." Sarin added that the posts should be given to senior retired doctors only if there are any remaining after all the young applicants are placed.

The Punjab government is planning to begin 117 mohalla clinics - one in each assembly constituency, out of which 75 clinics would be made operational across the state by August 15. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann had recently announced that they would dedicate 75 such mohalla clinics to the 75th anniversary of independence on August 15. The rest of the 109 clinics would reportedly be established by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the government is planning to hire 231 doctors for the mohalla clinics, with each being enrolled for Rs 50 per patient basis.

A young doctor told HT, "Counselling was held at Ludhiana civil hospital on July 28. When I reached the seminar hall, I was surprised to see a recently retired PCMS doctor sitting beside me. We practically have no match with them as they have specialisation in PG diploma/MD. They worked for almost 30-35 years. And they have the age benefit of 10 marks as they fall between (31-60 years) and I am getting only 5 marks as I am 26- year-old (less than 30)."

According to NHM – mission director (MD) Abhinav Trikha, the terms and conditions regarding the recruitment were duly published on the website of the department. However, he added that young doctors would be given first preference to meet the demand of doctors for mohalla clinics.

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