Punjab Notifies Modified Career Progression Scheme For Govt doctors- Check revised pay upgrades
Doctors
Chandigarh: After getting backlash from the doctors under the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) over their unmet demands, the Punjab Government has reinstated the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme. The doctors had earlier announced to go on strike from Tuesday over pending demands, following which the scheme was notified on Monday.
Back in 2021, the Congress Government suspended the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme. Now, the State has reintroduced the DACP scheme with a few changes by renaming the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme for medical officers of the health department.
In this regard, the State Government issued a letter on January 20, stating that "The Finance Department agrees to grant modified ACP to medical officers," Tribune has reported.
Previously, under the earlier scheme, the medical officers were entitled to three-grade pay revisions- with the first revision after four years, the second one after nine years, and the third revision after 14 years of service.
Also Read: Over 2500 Punjab Govt doctors to resume strike on January 20 over unmet demands
ACP Scheme:
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the new scheme revises the timelines to pay upgrades- the first being after five years, the second one after 10 years, and the third after 15 years of service. This new scheme will be applicable to officers appointed before July 17, 2020, who are receiving pay sales under the Punjab Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2021.
The Daily further mentioned that the modified ACP scheme will take effect on January 01, 2025. However, a separate scheme will be formulated for medical officers recruited on or after July 17, 2020, whose pay scales follow the Seventh Central Pay Commission or Sixth Punjab Pay Commission. The reason for formulating a separate scheme for them is the differences in pay matrixes and levels.
The Tribune has reported that the details of the scheme, which was released recently, revealed that the entry pay scale at level-18 will be Rs 56, 100. Five-year service will place them at level-21 with Rs 67,400 pay, while 10-year service will place them at level-23 with Rs 83,600 pay. After 15 years of service, the medical officers will move to level-27 with a pay of Rs 1,22,800.
Doctors Protest:
Meanwhile, after the State issued the notification for the reinstatement of the Assured career progression scheme (ACP) for government doctors, PCMSA called off their agitation.
Issuing a statement regarding this new development, the president of PCMSA, Dr. Akhil Sarin said that the reinstatement of the ACP would go a long way to retain doctors in the department and eventually strengthen the public healthcare system in the State.
Further, the association also lauded the Health Department for recruiting 304 medical officers and rationalising the policy to attract young doctors into the PCMS cadre.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that PCMSA announced an indefinite strike across all public healthcare facilities of the state, starting from January 20th. The action came in response to the failure to fulfill time-bound commitments related to the rollout of a security framework and the reinstatement of the Dynamic AssuredCareer Progression (DACP) scheme. The members of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) held a meeting with officials from the Health and Finance Departments but the issue was not resolved.
Amidst ongoing talks between the finance department and the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), around 2,000 doctors in the State had previously decided to resume their agitation since no significant outcomes had been achieved so far. They were also urging the Government to fulfill its time-bound commitments.
Last year in September also, the PCMS cadre had proceeded on a week-long agitation demanding regular recruitment of PCMS doctors, reinstatement of the stalled DACPs, and adequate security arrangements. The protests were called off after an intervention by the Chief Minister of Punjab and the issuance of time-bound written assurances by the cabinet sub-committee of the government.
