Ludhiana, May 2
The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has strongly condemned the brutal lathi-charge at Hoshiarpur, Talwandi Sabo and Chandigarh on peacefully agitating pharmacists and paramedical employees against the government policy of privatisation of rural dispensaries in Punjab.
The association, at the same time, reiterated its opposition to downsize the existing cadre of PCMS doctors and paramedics by handing over 1193 health dispensaries to the zila-parishad and replacing the medical and paramedical staff with those recruited on a contract basis.
In a press note issued here, Dr Hardeep Singh, state president and Dr Balwinder Kumar, district secretary of the PCMSA came down heavily on the government for resorting to repressive measures against health employees, who were exercising their democratic right to protest against the decision to hand over all 1193 rural health centres to zila parishads.
They said the contract system appointments were replacing health professional and employees as the government was out to exploit the medical fraternity with the 'hire and fire' policy, without any service benefits.
Dr Hardeep Singh further alleged that 1193 posts of PCMS doctors and pharmacists and 2386 regular posts of Class IV employees had been abolished to implement this harsh anti-employee decision without any planning to adjust all the affected staff members.
The association urged the Punjab Chief Minister to avoid the uncalled for confrontation with the employees and further impressed upon him to discuss all related matters across the table with the PCMSA and representatives of all the concerned paramedical organisations.
