On a call given by the national body of Indian Medical Association for a nationwide protest to bring to the attention of the nation regarding atrocities faced by the medical profession and for failure of the Central Government to address some of the genuine grievances of the doctors, the allopathic doctors in Patiala running nursing homes, clinics, diagnostic centers and laboratories, will observe a complete closure of their establishments on 6th June to join the national protest. More than 100 members of IMA Patiala will join national protest at New Delhi and the other members will organize a protest rally in Patiala.
The Punjab State Medical & Dental Teachers Association has also supported the IMA protest and the medical and dental teachers working under Punjab Government will wear black badges with OPD services and teaching suspended from 12-00 to 2-00 PM on that day. The Punjab Civil Medical Service doctors will also join the protest to support the IMA.
The major demands of the allopathic doctors include amendment in the criminal prosecution of medical negligence cases, capping the compensation cases under Consumer Protection Act on doctors, professional autonomy in treatment and prescriptions, stringent central act against violence on doctors, amendment in PC PNDT and Clinical Establishment Acts, stop unscientific mixing of systems of medicine, empower MBBS graduates, implement inter-ministerial committee recommendations within six weeks, single window accountability, single window registration of doctors and medical establishments, amendment in MCI Act to maintain professional autonomy instead of bringing in a new National Medical Commission lead by politicians, uniform MBBS examination instead on NEXT, uniform service conditions for doctors and faculty, Central anti-quackery law, 2500 family medicine PG seats, reimbursement of emergency services for private sector, relief to government doctors from heavy income tax and increase in health budget to 5 percent of GDP for universal health coverage.
