Considering the long pending demand of PCMS doctors, the Punjab Government has relaxed the eligibility conditions for PCMS doctors for admissions in post-graduate courses.
Announcing this, the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that this relaxation for admissions in PG courses was provided on the directive of the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. “Earlier, the PCMS doctors who had completed four years of service in difficult rural areas and six years service in other rural areas were given 30 percent incentive marks and allowed to pursue PG courses. Now the requirement of rural service has been reduced from four-six years to two to three years.
He said that the doctors would get 20 and 30 percent incentive marks on completion of two or three and three or 4.5 years of rural service. The doctors who get admission under incentive category would get full pay during their PG course.
“Earlier, candidates who secured admission on the basis of their own merit in the PG course were allowed to do PG course only if they had completed three years of rural service. Now, this period has reduced from three to one year and the doctors would be given leave of the kind due during the PG course,” he said.
Earlier, the PCMS doctors, who did not complete their probation period, were not given leave of the kind due and their service was treated as dies-non during the PG course resulting into loss of seniority which discouraged many doctors, he said adding that now they would get leave of the kind due and their original seniority would be protected.
For the candidates, who are sponsored by PGI, the bond has been reduced from 15 years or Rs 75 lakhs to 10 years or Rs 50 lakhs.
The Minister explained that the intention was to allow PCMS doctors to pursue and complete their degree as early as possible so that they can serve the Department for longer period after completion of PG course.