No one can take away docs' right to protest: PCMSA

Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) and the Chandigarh chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) have flayed Medical Council of India (MCI) and Punjab Medical Council (PMC) for allegedly taking away doctors' right to protest.

In response to a strike by specialist doctors, the state medical council had recently said it would cancel the registration of protesting doctors if they failed to return to work immediately.

In a release, PCMSA's Dr Gagandeep Shergill said like any other citizen of the country, the doctors have the right to protest. "It's a matter between the government and doctors. MCI has no right to issue such threats to doctors," he said.

"We are protesting for better services and infrastructure facilities for patients. If we feel the need to protest again, we will go for it," said Dr Shergill.

He said the recent incidents of misbehavior with doctors by influential persons have forced them to go on strike. Notably, Dr Ishwar Singh Punia, a senior medical officer (SMO) at Gohana, was allegedly beaten up in his office by some miscreants on Tuesday.

Ina separate release, IMA's Chandigarh chapter said MCI has wrongly interpreted the Supreme Court judgment on preventing doctors from going on strike. "If emergency services don't get affected, we have every right to go on strike," said Dr Sandeep Dhavan, president of IMA (Chandigarh).