Patiala, April 22 - On the call of Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) Punjab today called a 2-hour statewide strike at all government hospitals and public health care centers across the state. Yesterday, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh met with the office bearers of the association and assured to arrange security, on which the organization took out a symbolic rally of 2 hours today instead of a full day strike.
It may be mentioned that Dr. Sunil Bhagat, SMO, ESI Hospital Hoshiarpur was beaten and injured by the patient's relatives who is under treatment in critical condition at DMC Hospital Ludhiana. In a rally held at Mata Kushalia Hospital in Patiala today, Patiala unit of PCMSA organization demanded zero tolerance towards incidents of violence against health officials and employees in view of Hoshiarpur incident and arranged adequate security arrangements at all public health centers of the state. Repeated demand to be made. On this occasion, it was warned that if adequate security arrangements are not made in the hospitals, then the health workers' organizations will be forced to wage a serious and widespread struggle.
The Patiala unit of the Indian Medical Association, an organization of private doctors, also kept its clinics closed for an hour this morning. The Civil Surgeon also joined the demonstration along with the officers of his office. All doctors of Mata Kushalya Hospital including Dr. Harinder Gill, Dr. Sumit Singh, Dr. Nidhi Sharma, Dr. Bimaljot Singh, Dr. Zorawar Singh were present on this occasion.