Buckling under the pressure of protesting doctors, the Punjab health department on Sunday sent an invitation to their association to come for negotiations. However, the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association has not taken any decision yet and the Monday-Tuesday strike looks to be on schedule.
The health department had transferred total 523 specialist doctors on Tuesday to upgrade 100 hospitals in the state. In response to the government decision, the PCMS Association has announced to go on two-day strike from Monday.
On Sunday, association officials confirmed that they have received a phone call from health department officials. "Let them send an official invitation, and we will consider it in our state executive," said Dr Gagandeep Shergill, general secretary of the association.
In a press release issued by the health department on Sunday, director, health services, Dr Ashok Nayyar, appealed to the doctors that instead of considering any move like a strike they must come forward and bring their grievances to the notice of the health minister, principal secretary or the director.
He said that any genuine cases, where the association feels the transfers have been unjustified, would be dealt with on priority and with a compassionate view. He further urged the doctors not to adopt the path of agitation. He said that even health minister Madan Mohan Mittal himself has assured doctors that the department was open to reconsidering cases.
{{/usCountry}}He said that any genuine cases, where the association feels the transfers have been unjustified, would be dealt with on priority and with a compassionate view. He further urged the doctors not to adopt the path of agitation. He said that even health minister Madan Mohan Mittal himself has assured doctors that the department was open to reconsidering cases.
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