Our say not included in policy-making: Govt doctors

DEHRADUN: Doctors have expressed displeasure over the Uttarakhand government's decision to exclude provincial medical health services (PMHS), an association of state government physicians, from consultations before taking key decisions in matters of health care in the state. At the annual general meeting of all government doctors of Uttarakhand on Friday, members of the association also came out openly against the government’s move to deploy unskilled and retired people as ‘health advisers’.

“We have worked here for decades and suddenly we see unknown elements trying to take the reins of the health department and drive the doctors out from taking key policy decisions, which will harm the interest of the health department. The issues that should be taken up on a priority are being kept aside by the state, which is adversely affecting everyone,” said Dr Nandan Singh Bisht, coordinator, PMHS (working committee).

The association also handed over a five-point memorandum to the chief minister seeking implementation of dynamic assured career progression scheme in the state without any rider. The doctors have also demanded the restructuring of departmental vacancies with enhanced pay and perks. In view of difficult geographical terrain, doctors have also demanded that the state government should provide them facilities equivalent to state government officers.

In the memorandum, the doctors' association also advised the state government to deploy PMHS doctors as advisers rather para-dropping outsiders for the task. The association also demanded that retired and contractual doctors should be deployed in rural and hilly areas while young doctors should be posted in the plains, as was followed previously.