Punjab Doctors Set August 19 Deadline for 24x7 Security Deployment

Ludhiana: Almost a year after the AAP-led Punjab Government assured 24x7 security for doctors at government medical colleges and hospitals - a promise that remains unfulfilled, doctors across the state have urged the government to fulfil its commitment by August 19 this year, or they will be forced to protest again.

The doctors alleged that the state government had promised to deploy security personnel at government hospitals and health facilities across the state to ensure the safety of healthcare workers. Since the government failed to act, the doctors now expect the promise to be fulfilled by August 19 this year.

Regarding the reason why the government did not keep their word, it has been alleged that the Finance Department was reluctant to approve the proposal for hiring security guards, even though Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had given a written assurance on September 11, 2024.

To discuss the issue, a delegation from the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCSMA) met Punjab Health Secretary Kumal Rahul during a meeting held on Monday. The meeting was arranged after the association submitted a fresh letter to Kumal Rahul in this regard.

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

In the letter, the association highlighted the growing incidents of violence against doctors at government healthcare facilities. They emphasized that women doctors, especially those serving in rural areas, remain vulnerable during night duties. These concerns have strengthened the demand for robust security arrangements at government hospitals.

According to data compiled by the association, at least 60 incidents of extreme violence endangering the lives of doctors and other healthcare staff occurred over the past year at government healthcare facilities in Punjab.

District-wise breakdown: Six incidents were reported from Amritsar; five each from Pathankot and Hoshiarpur; four each from Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Muktsar, and Moga; three each from Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, SBS Nagar, Mohali, Bathinda, and Patiala; two each from Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Ferozepur; and one each from Ropar and Barnala.

The association cited these incidents in the letter, including a recent case at Talwandi Sabo Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH), where a patient attacked an on-duty healthcare worker with a sharp weapon, severely injuring him.

"In June 2025, another patient fired gunshots inside the emergency ward of the Kartarpur Community Health Centre (CHC). At Sultanpur Lodhi SDH, two parties had a violent face-off, following which a doctor on-duty and the staff were forced to flee and lock themselves inside the building. Similar incidents were reported from public healthcare facilities in Jagraon, Zira, Dera Bassi, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur, among others," the letter read.

Medical Dialogues in 2024 reported that the PCMSA on September 9 staged a massive protest where the doctors suspended outpatient department services across all government facilities. However, the association called off its ongoing strike after the state government accepted their demand, which included security of health care professionals, regular recruitment of medical officers and assured career progression (ACP) and assured that security will be deployed at all the 24x7 healthcare centres within a week.

Commenting on the matter, PCMSA state president Dr Akhil Sarin told HT, “It has been nearly one full year since the implementation of the security framework was announced. But nothing has happened on the ground. We have again been assured by the Punjab health department that our demands will be fulfilled by August 19. Hopefully, the government will not compel doctors to protest once again. We will wait until August 17, when we will hold our general body meeting to decide the future course of action if our demands are not met.”

“The incidents of extreme violence have shaken the cadre to the core, but we are still performing our duties with utmost dedication. It is high time for the government to fulfil its promise and provide adequate security to healthcare staff. The PCMS cadre is the only cadre involved in high-risk activities — on ground 24X7 duty in medico-legal tests, which also involves examining criminal elements and getting exposed to anti-social elements in the society… We hope the government, which claims to bring ‘Sehat Kranti’ (health revolution) in the state, will solve such basic issues, instead of making us beg to save our lives,” Dr Sarin told the Indian Express.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the health department said, "It has been learned that the Punjab health department might initially get approval to provide security at 23 district hospitals, while security arrangements at sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres (CHCs) would be provided later on. Our earlier proposal was not accepted by the finance department. We are slated to hold another meeting with the finance department over this issue."

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