Doctors continue strike in Jalandhar district, patients suffer

The OPD services remained suspended for the entire day for the second consecutive day at all public health centres in the district.

Doctors at the Civil Hospital, CHCs and sub-divisional hospitals in Jalandhar struck work on the call given by the PCMS Association over staff security and shortage of doctors.

The Civil Hospital wore a deserted look. However, the emergency ward remained busy. Security personnel at the Civil Hospital bolted all other doors and allowed only the emergency entrance to remain open.

However, attendants of a patient, who sustained injury after iron bars (construction material) fell on his head, said they were asked to shift the patient elsewhere.

While the 500-bedded hospital is the largest Civil Hospital in the state, posters outside the emergency, bearing words “Doctors are on strike” and “OPD is closed” and PCMSA pamphlets titled “Why are government doctors on strike?”, detailing the causes of the strike, were pasted on the walls. The strike has also caused inconvenience for those coming to get birth and death certificates, etc.

In the ongoing phased dharna, doctors’ key demands include security for doctors, restoring promotions, addressing staff shortage, among others. Doctors of the PCMS Association said they were in continued talks with the government on the issue, however, the lack of government response had forced them to continue the dharna.