CHANDIGARH: The Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Partap Singh Bajwa, on Friday, exhorted the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government to address the grievances of the doctors in the state before they go on an indefinite strike, which would end up crippling the medical services.
Notably, the government doctors under the banner of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) have all set to observe a strike on September 9. The unresolved issues of the doctors include stalled assured career progressions, pending sixth CPC arrears, and security at the workplace among other demands. Doctors in the government sector are overburdened and understaffed.
"Government doctors are the backbone of the health services in Punjab. It is the people belonging to the unprivileged section of society, who generally choose government hospitals for treatment. If the doctors of the government hospitals go on strike, it is poor people, Dalits in particular, who would be at the receiving end. And the onus will completely be on the government", Bajwa added.
Senior Congress Leader, Bajwa said that one after another, different employees belonging to various sectors including doctors, teachers, clerks, etc., and farmers have developed discontent and with the AAP government. They have been staging protests. However, the AAP government has failed miserably to resolve their issues.
"One of the major reasons behind the same is that the AAP government reneged from most of its promises. They made false promises to the people of Punjab. Meanwhile, the inefficient 'broom party' has not got any clue about how to run the government and finances", Bajwa added.