Latest news with #PunjabCivilMedicalServicesAssociation
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab turns to retired specialists to fix crippling doctor shortage in public hospitals
Chandigarh: With nearly half of Punjab's sanctioned specialist doctor posts lying vacant, state govt has turned to its retired medical workforce in a last-ditch effort to plug widening gaps in public healthcare. In a move both pragmatic and desperate, the health department has invited retired govt doctors to apply for 100 contractual posts of consultants (specialist doctors) across district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, and community health centres (CHCs). This recruitment drive comes amid a deepening crisis in Punjab's healthcare system. Of the 2,098 sanctioned specialist posts, 990 (47%) remain vacant. The situation is no better in the general medical officer cadre, where 1,962 of 3,847 posts (51%) are unfilled. Irregular recruitment cycles and growing attrition have compounded the shortage, with previous efforts to hire yielding underwhelming results. In 2022, the state attempted to recruit 634 specialist doctors, but faced a poor response. Recently, out of 170 advertised posts, only 60 doctors joined. Experts attribute this reluctance to factors such as pay disparities, frequent deployment for VVIP duties, and lack of emergency medical staff, which often forces specialists to handle tasks outside their core responsibilities — including post-mortems and emergency coverage. The health department is now banking on the experience of retired PCMS specialists, aged between 58 and 64 years, to fill critical service gaps. The upper age limit for appointment is 65, and applicants must be free of disciplinary proceedings. The 100 consultant posts will be distributed across specialties — 21 in paediatrics, 20 each in obstetrics and gynaecology, and general medicine, 15 in general surgery, 13 in anaesthesia, seven in radiology, and four in psychiatry. Appointments will be on a contractual basis for one year, extendable annually based on performance and departmental approval. Consultants will perform only clinical duties — outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care — and will be exempt from medico-legal, administrative, or post-mortem responsibilities. They will not be allowed to engage in private practice during the contractual period. Applications are being accepted via email from July 12 to 22, with counselling scheduled for July 25 in Chandigarh. Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) president Dr Akhil Sarin described it as a "step in the right direction" toward improving healthcare access for the poor and underserved. He noted that walk-in interviews for an additional 160 specialist posts are also in the pipeline. Dr Sarin added that planned reforms, including the restoration of the modified assured career progression (MACP) scheme and enhanced security measures, which are nearing implementation, could play a crucial role in improving recruitment and retention in the public health cadre. "The govt's renewed focus on reinforcing clinical manpower is encouraging," Dr Sarin said. "If supported with systemic reforms, these measures can significantly ease pressure on public hospitals. " BOXES Under Court Scrutiny The crisis has also caught the attention of the judiciary. The Punjab and Haryana high court, hearing a public interest litigation filed by one Bhisham Kinger of Malerkotla, has directed the principal secretary, health, to submit a detailed affidavit on infrastructure and manpower gaps in govt health facilities. The court has also asked for an update on the status and timeline of the ongoing recruitment process. Pay disparities to blame Experts attribute the reluctance of specialists to join service in Punjab to factors such as pay disparities, frequent deployment for VVIP duties, and lack of emergency medical staff They say this often forces specialists to handle tasks outside their core responsibilities, including post-mortems and emergency coverage Of 2,098 sanctioned specialist posts in Punjab, 990 (47%) remain vacant. The situation is no better in the general medical officer cadre, where 1,962 of 3,847 posts (51%) are unfilled
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Violence against doctors: Punjab finally moves to secure govt hospitals
1 2 Chandigarh: After prolonged inaction and mounting pressure from the medical fraternity, Punjab govt has finally begun implementing long-promised security measures to protect healthcare workers. The decision comes in the wake of a disturbing surge in violence against doctors and medical staff at govt hospitals — a crisis that eroded morale and endangered lives on the frontlines of public healthcare. Despite repeated assurances over the past year, frontline medical professionals continued to face physical assaults and verbal abuse, particularly during night shifts, in govt-run hospitals. The combination of insufficient security, staffing shortages, and rising patient aggression left doctors and paramedics operating in a climate of fear. According to data compiled by the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), over 50 cases of violence against doctors were reported from govt hospitals across Punjab in the past year. Amritsar emerged as the worst-hit district with six such incidents, followed by Hoshiarpur and Pathankot (five each), Moga (four), and Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Muktsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala (three each). Several other districts, including Mohali, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Barnala, also reported multiple cases. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pessoas com dores no joelho devem fazer isto à noite Saude News Saiba Mais Undo PCMSA, which persistently advocated for urgent intervention, pushed the govt to act. Following its sustained campaign, including a strike last year, the govt committed to deploying round-the-clock security personnel at all hospitals handling medicolegal cases by Sept 9, 2024. However, the deadline lapsed without implementation. Under renewed pressure, the health department has now directed all civil surgeons to furnish detailed reports by Jun 9 on incidents of violence from the past two years, as well as corresponding police actions taken. The move is part of groundwork to operationalise the Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, which provides a legal framework to safeguard healthcare workers against assaults and vandalism. A govt proposal to deploy CCTV cameras and trained security personnel at public health facilities is currently under active consideration. PCMSA had earlier suggested a cost-effective model, recommending outsourced guards at DC wage rates (around Rs 13,500 per month), scaled according to hospital size — 20 guards for district hospitals, six for sub-divisional hospitals, and four for community health centres offering 24x7 medicolegal services. Despite several meetings with govt officials, including a cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, implementation was repeatedly delayed. It was only during a follow-up meeting on April 14, 2025 — involving health minister Dr Balbir Singh, principal health secretary Kumar Rahul, and Cheema — that the finance department reportedly agreed to deploy guards through PESCO, an organisation comprising ex-servicemen. Dr Akhil Sarin, president of PCMSA, welcomed the step, but cautioned that urgency is paramount. "A disturbing pattern of violence emerged against doctors and medical staff at govt facilities. We can no longer afford delays. The state must ensure immediate implementation of security arrangements," he said. He said the spotlight is now on the govt to translate its promises into concrete protection measures — before another incident adds to the growing list of victims. Recent Incidents of Violence A series of disturbing incidents of violence were reported at civil hospitals in Gurdaspur, Derabassi, and Hoshiarpur during April, raising serious concerns about the safety of healthcare staff and patients. On April 12, an altercation erupted at Gurdaspur civil hospital when two groups brought their fight into the emergency ward. The clash led to significant property damage and forced both doctors and patients to flee for safety. Just a day before, Derabassi civil hospital witnessed a similar incident. A clash between two groups led to chaos, with reports of vandalism and hospital staff locking themselves inside rooms to avoid harm. Eleven individuals were said to have been injured in the incident. MSID:: 121693014 413 |
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab expands free medicine list to curb out of pocket expenditure
Chandigarh: In a significant move to make healthcare more affordable, the Punjab govt has expanded the list of essential medicines to be provided free of cost at all govt hospitals and health facilities across the state, increasing the total number to close to 500. The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on patients, particularly those from economically weaker sections, by ensuring greater access to life-saving and commonly used medicines without out-of-pocket expenses. Punjab has one of the highest rates of out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare in the country, exceeding the national average. According to the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey conducted by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation for the period July 2022 to June 2023, the average medical expense per hospitalisation in the state was Rs 8,306 for rural households and Rs 8,272 for urban households. These expenses are often met through personal savings or borrowing, putting additional pressure on household finances. To address this concern, the Punjab health department has increased the number of essential drugs at each level of the public health system. District hospitals will now have 487 essential drugs, up from the previous count of 276. Sub-divisional hospitals will stock 362 drugs, up from 276, while community health centres (CHCs) will have 317 essential drugs, compared to the earlier 230. At the primary health centre (PHC) level, the number has been raised from 151 to 202, and health and wellness centres will now stock 103 essential medicines. The health department has issued updated drug lists to all civil surgeons across districts and instructed hospital in-charges to ensure the uninterrupted availability of these medicines in adequate quantities. Hospital heads have also been tasked with monitoring their inventory regularly and contacting district warehouses in case of any shortages or discrepancies. If the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) is unable to supply certain medicines in time, civil surgeons and senior medical officers have been authorised to procure them locally. For local purchase, civil surgeons are authorised to spend up to Rs 10 lakh, while senior medical officers have the authority to purchase medicines worth Rs 2.50 lakh. Principal secretary of health, Kumar Rahul, stated that the decision aims to reduce the out-of-pocket burden on patients and ensure that medicines are available across all govt hospitals without interruption. He reiterated that hospital authorities must guarantee that all medicines on the list are provided to patients completely free of charge. Supporting the initiative, Dr Akhil Sarin, president, Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), called the move a step in the right direction. He noted that with nearly 500 essential drugs now being offered for free, the initiative directly lowers the cost of healthcare by addressing the significant expense of medicines, thereby making treatment more accessible and affordable for the public. "The Punjab govt's decision is being seen as a major policy intervention to strengthen public health infrastructure and move towards more equitable healthcare delivery," said Dr Sarin. BOX CHOICE EXPANDS FACILITY | OLD LIST | NEW LIST | District Hospital | 276 | 487 | Sub-divisional hospital| 276 | 362 | Community health centre| 230 | 317 | Primary health centre | 151 | 202 | BOX Doctors told to write in bold or capitals Following directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana high court on May 26, the directorate of health and family welfare has instructed all medical colleges and civil surgeons across Punjab to ensure that all prescription slips and diagnoses are written in capital or bold letters by doctors. The directive aims to improve legibility and prevent errors in patient care. Officials have been asked to ensure strict compliance with the order and see that all doctors under their respective jurisdiction implement these instructions in letter and spirit. MSID:: 121519598 413 |
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab looks to hire 1,000 docs to meet acute shortage, plans to wrap up hirings by end of year
Chandigarh: To address the chronic shortage of doctors across its health facilities, Punjab govt is gearing up to initiate a large-scale recruitment drive to hire 1,000 medical officers. This decision comes on the heels of the state's recruitment of 400 medical officers—a process that began last year after a gap of four years. The shortfall of nearly 1,000 sanctioned posts lying vacant has severely impacted healthcare delivery, particularly in border and rural regions. The issue was prominently raised during the recent budget session, with even legislators from incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) flagging the absence of doctors in their constituencies. Health minister Dr Balbir Singh assured the assembly that the govt was committed to addressing the gap, and this recruitment initiative is a step toward fulfilling this promise. Despite each district in Punjab having at least one district hospital, many have poor infrastructure, face human resource shortages, and have inadequate service delivery. Alarmingly, only 45% of these hospitals meet the required doctor staffing norms. The state's doctor-to-population ratio stands at 1.02 per 1,000—well below the national average of 1:811. To improve public healthcare access and quality, Punjab set an ambitious target of increasing this ratio to 2 doctors per 1,000 people by 2030, and to 4 by 2047. The govt also committed to formulating fresh recruitment and promotion policies, while increasing MBBS seats in state medical colleges. The upcoming recruitment plan was discussed in detail on April 17 during a meeting between principal (health secretary) Kumar Rahul, director (health services) Dr Hitinder Kaur, and a delegation from Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Walmart Photos With a New Level of Detail Old Money Style Undo Officials said the drive will be launched shortly, and they intend to wrap it up by the end of this year. Welcoming the move, PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sarin reiterated the need for regular hiring of PCMS doctors to fortify Punjab's public health infrastructure. "A robust and continuous recruitment process is essential to ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable populations," said Dr Sarin. He urged the govt to expedite the hiring process. However, attracting young talent remains a major challenge. Punjab currently offers an entry-level basic salary of Rs 53,100—significantly lower than the central scale of Rs 67,100 and Haryana's Rs 56,100. The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has been demanding a revision of the pay structure to bring it in line with neighbouring states and central norms, making govt jobs more competitive and appealing. In addition, PCMSA has been advocating for a secure working environment for medical professionals, along with the provision of adequate equipment and support staff to ensure optimal services for the general public.
