U'khand docs call off strike after reassurance from health authorities
The approved demands include a 50% salary hike for specialists in govt hospitals— aligning their pay with specialists in govt medical colleges—and the proper implementation of a long-promised one-time relaxation under the Special Dynamic Assured Career Progression (SDACP) scheme. Both measures are expected to be implemented within a month.
Dr Manoj Verma said that the third demand - to revoke govt's decision to classify Nainital, Almora, and Mussoorie as sugam (easily accessible) postings and reclassify them as durgam (difficult-to-access) postings— may take an additional two to three months to be addressed.
The reassurances came from Rajesh Kumar, secretary of the health department, who had called PMHS representatives to hear their grievances on Tuesday. Convinced by these assurances, the PMHS decided to call off their protest, during which members had been wearing black ribbons at hospitals and their respective workplaces.
The previously planned actions—cessation of work and mass resignation to the Governor—have also been suspended, with the hope that the promises will be formally implemented.
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