Patients visiting the Government health facilities on Monday faced problems due to two hour mass work boycott of doctors of State health services.
The Provincial Medical Health Services (PMHS), the association of Government doctors had given the work boycott call for proper implementation of Departmental Assured Career Progression (DACP). The patients, however, bore the brunt of the strike in all parts of the State. long queues were seen in all Government hospitals as doctors kept off the duty for first two hours on the day.
In the Associated hospital of Doon Medical College (DMC), patients were seen jostling with one another after the doctors started their day in the OPDs more than two hours after the normal working time.
Meanwhile the PMHS organised a meeting in the hospital campus and blamed the Government for not heeding to its demands. The President of PMHS, Dr S K Goswami said that there are two set of rules which are being implemented in same cadre of doctors in the State health services which is not acceptable.
The State Government had implemented the DACP last year but restricted it those joining the state health services in and after the year 2015. The serving doctors are agitated on the issue and observed a week long peaceful protest by donning black arm bands till Saturday.
The General Secretary of the association Dr Naresh Napalchiyal said that the doctors would be on two hour work boycott till February 06 and review meetings would be held on February 07 in both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions in which the future course of action would be decided. He clarified that the essential services would be maintained during the agitation.
DACP means benefit of assured increase in the grade pays of the doctors after 4, 9, 13 and 20 years of the service irrespective of whether they get promotions or not.
The doctors of the state health services are of the view that the State Government should implement the scheme in totality as only 35 percent of total sanctioned posts of medical officers are occupied.