Chandigarh: The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development has asked the Punjab govt to abandon “contract-based, unprofessional, and makeshift policies such as Mohalla Clinics, and instead focus on strengthening the basic structure of Punjab’s healthcare system”.Questioning the proposed Aam Aadmi Village Clinic scheme, the representatives of the doctors’ body — Dr Arun Mitra, Dr Jasbir Singh Aulakh and Dr Indervir Singh Gill — in a joint statement said, “There is no serious effort to improve the primary healthcare system, particularly its preventive and promotive aspects, which were already severely affected by the OPD-based model of the Aam Aadmi Clinics.” “Even in village clinics, none of the fundamental issues of primary healthcare are likely to be addressed. Teleconsultation schemes already failed at the district hospital and the community health officer (CHO) levels, and the govt has not even made an effort to review these,” read the statement.The doctors’ body further stated, “The govt is preparing to replace regular posts with contract-based recruitment. For example, instead of filling regular positions for doctors, pharmacists, lab technicians and Class IV employees in primary health centres, contract-based staff are being appointed, who can be dismissed without reason with just a week’s notice. Women employees are also being deprived of basic rights such as maternity leave.““The sanitation budget for village clinics is only Rs 5,000, which also includes the salaries of sanitation workers. This arrangement is a violation of labour laws,” they added.The medics also demanded that the Punjab govt hold consultations with health experts and organisations working in the health sector, conduct a comprehensive review of the healthcare system, fill regular posts and “abandon the ad hoc policies”.MSID:: 130206951 413 |
