PCMSA opposes withdrawal of NPA of govt doctors

BATHINDA: Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has opposed the Punjab government's proposal to withdraw the non-practising allowance (NPA) given to government doctors. It is to be mentioned that NPA is being given to the government doctors for the arduous nature of duties being done by the doctors and their late entry into service because of the long period of study, claimed the PCMSA.

PCMSA has also claimed that it never supported unethical practices by some of the government doctors as it always stood for the cause of the poor and needy people of the state.This move by the govt is anti-doctor and anti-people as many senior and honest doctors will leave the service and the poor will be at the mercy of private practitioners as the department is already facing shortage of doctors. NPA is being given not only in Punjab but in all states and by the Union government to its doctors.

PCMSA state president Dr Gagandeep Singh and vice-president Dr Manohar Singh said that "the association strongly appeals to the health minister and the senior officers of the department to fully support the cause of its cadre in larger interest as not only routine clinical work will be jeopardized but emergency services as well as implementation of national programmes and administrative work. Any such regressive step will be strongly opposed and PCMSA will resort to agitation for its rights".