In support of their demands, the pharmacists of Government hospitals undertook a secretariat march here on Monday. The pharmacists from different parts of the State under the banner of their outfit ‘Diploma Pharmacists Association’ (DPA) gathered at Doon hospital and marched towards the secretariat. The association is demanding that the State Government should accept their 18 point agenda.
They alleged that despite the orders of Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi, the department officials have not released the Government order (GO) regarding cadre restructuring. Addressing the members the State president of the association BS Kaluda said that issue of cadre restructuring is pending since creation of the State. He said that the allotment of pharmacists in the hospitals is also not proper and needs immediate review. There are 1,260 posts of pharmacists in the State; the association is of the view that the due to increased work load the state Government should increase the posts of pharmacists in the health services.
The pharmacists are demanding that they should get inaccessible area allowance and chief pharmacists should get patient care allowance like in Central Government. The agitation of the pharmacists affected the health services of the State in most of the Government hospitals on Monday. In Doon hospital however some pharmacists were seen stationed at the medicine distribution counters but their reduced strength ensured big queues outside these counters. The problems could aggravate in the coming days as the association has threatened to undertake work boycott from May 18 and from June 1 the association plans to go on an indefinite strike.