Amidst divergent view of the two doctors’ associations, back-up plan by the State Government, and the attempts of reconciliation by the State health authorities, the Day 1 of the two-day strike in protest of the mass transfers evoked a mixed response on Monday.
While the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association — the body leading the stir — has been claiming that the strike has a deeper impact, the State health authorities are maintaining that things remained normal, except partially affecting some primary health centers or civil hospitals.
On the first day of the strike, the doctors remained present at the hospitals or centres, but they did not work. However, the emergency services were provided to all.
“The functioning was normal at Jalandhar, ludhiana, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, though it was affected to some extent in Bathinda and Mohali. But, emergency services were provided to one and all,” state Health Services director Dr Ashok Nayyar told The Pioneer.
He maintained that there had been only “partial” impact in some areas, but by and large things are functioning normally. “We have also made alternative arrangements to ensure that health services do not suffer,” added Dr Nayyar.
Ensuring smooth functioning of medical institutes across the State on Monday, health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal had already sought the services of 1000 rural doctors.
Mittal, a day before, has issued special instructions to all concerned officials to ensure that emergency services function smoothly regardless of the strike. Besides, he also asked for setting up a control room at the health directorate to monitor the situation and take corrective steps as and where needed.
Dr Nayyar further added that the state health authorities are holding discussions with the striking doctors. “We are open for discussion and consider the genuine cases of the doctors. We will go back over the cases which are within the set norms and procedures,” he added.
Regarding the decision to go-ahead with the strike on Day 2, Dr Nayyar said that the Association has yet not communicated their any decision in this regard. “We are in touch with them, but they must bring to our notice any genuine cases where they feel transfers have been unjustified. We are hopeful that they will call off the strike soon,” he added.
In contrast, the Association claimed of affecting the state health services “deeper”. “All the doctors are present at the centres, but they are not working. The strike is on successfully,” said PCMS Association vice-chairman Dr Harish Bhardwaj.
After giving the combined call for the statewide strike in protest against the mass transfers of 523 specialist doctors in an effort to upgrade 100 hospitals across the state, the PCMS Specialist Doctors’ Association withdrew on the ground that it would wait for some days giving the government some time to respond to their demands, with the PCMS Association going ahead with its decision.
“The disagreement between the two doctors’ bodies has adversely affected the strike. The impact was not that much as it could have been.
When one association is on strike, and the doctors associated with another are working, the impact has to be les comparatively,” a member of PCMS Association said.