CHANDIGARH: Amidst the pandemic, medical services were badly hit in Punjab on Friday after doctors of state-run hospitals joined a day-long strike to protest against the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations on de-linking non-practicing allowance (NPA) from the basic pay. The impact of the strike was seen more in rural areas of the state.

The call for strike was given by the Joint Punjab Government Doctors Coordination Committee, which has members from the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association and is supported by the Punjab Medical Teachers Association, Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association, Punjab Ayurveda Officers Association, Rural Medical Officers Association, Punjab Dental Medical Officers Association.

The district units will visit the healthcare facilities and convey to the patients about “injustice” being done to doctors by the government, said Dr Gagandeep Shergill, senior vice-president of the PCMS Association, Punjab. “If the government does not respond even after the strike, we will convey to patients that since doctors cannot render their services, they are being referred to hospitals outside Punjab,” said Dr Shergill.

Though indoor and emergency services would function as usual on Friday, the committee had warned that these could be suspended as well if the government did not reconsider the decision.

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