The members of Indian Medical Association in Patiala along with medical dental teachers, PCMS doctors and students of Government Medical and Dental Colleges of Patiala today organized a massive rally and raised slogans against Government of India , in the medical college to protest against the failure of the Government of India to check atrocities being faced by the medical professionals throughout in the country and lackluster attitude of the central government towards the genuine grievances of the doctors. The private medical establishments in the city remained closed throughout the day. OPD services in Rajindra Hospital and teaching in medical college remained suspended for more than two hours. The doctors raised slogans against Government of India. The Punjab Medical Representative’s Association has also supported the IMA national protest.
Later a deputation of IMA Patiala led by Past National Vice President Dr OPS Kande, Former President Punjab Medical Council Dr Manmohan Singh, Dr JPS Walia and Dr BS Sohal submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Patiala with their charter of demands.
According to Dr DS Bhullar, Media and Medico-Legal Advisor of IMA Patiala and General Secretary of Punjab State Medical & Dental Teachers Association, the incidences of violence on doctors and health care establishments are on the rise in the country and the government has failed to bring a stringent law to check these criminal acts of violence on doctors. The doctors are facing financial terrorism in the form of heavy compensation under Consumer Protection Act. The Government doctors are being forced to give heavy income tax due to wrong income tax policies of the Central Government for the salaried class.
Medicos on war path against Central Government
The Government has failed to implement inter-ministerial committee recommendations and is trying to politicize the autonomous functioning of Medical Council of India by bringing in the new National Medical Commission instead of making amendments in the MCI Act. The country is facing dangerous quacks in the absence of stringent Central Anti-Quackery law on one side and on the other side the Supreme Court guidelines in the alleged medical negligence cases are not being followed in Toto.
The future of next generation of medicos is in jeopardy due to various acts of omission and commission by the Central Health Ministry resulting in brain drain from the country and the IMA cannot act as mute spectator to this whole mess.
