PCMS doctors launch protest week

Chandigarh, Mar 13 (UNI) The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association today launched a state wide 'protest week' against the decision of state government to downsize existing cadre of PCMS doctors and paramedics by handing over 1,310 health dispensaries in Punjab to the Zila Parishad.

This would forcefully vacate posted regular doctors/staff and replacing them with doctors/staff on contract basis.

As a part of the protest the PCMS Association will organize district level protest rallies in the state in the week. The protest started today with doctors staging rallies at Patiala, Kapurthala, Sangrur and Jalandar.

In a press note issued here, Dr Hardeep Singh, President and Dr Balwinder Kumar, Registrar of the Association condemned this anti-employee, un-planned hasty move of the government.

Contract basis management is a step towards privatization of health services and the government was shedding its responsibility to provide health care to common poor man, the release added. The government has totally ignored the suggestion of PCMS Association to up-grade rural primary health centres to clinical hospitals with in-door emergency facility, they added.

The Association has demanded to halt this un-planned move of downsizing and up-rooting of PCMS doctors.

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