‘Urgent need to create better work environment for docs’

The Provincial Medical Services Association (PMSA), body of government doctors in Uttar Pradesh, has demanded that the matter of disinterest among doctors towards government service should be taken seriously.

A delegation met the principal secretary, health and family welfare, and other officials and demanded that any action against doctors for alleged negligence should not be taken until an inquiry is conducted.

They also registered protest against the action taken in Farukhabad, where an FIR was lodged against a doctor by the administrative officials recently.

“Probe on allegation for negligence should be conducted by panel of medical experts,” said Dr Amit Singh, general secretary, PMSA.

“There is a medical protection act that prohibits violence against doctors but it hardly protects them. There is an urgent need to create better work environment for doctors so that they voluntarily join the government services,” said Dr Ashok Yadav, president, PMSA.

Around 7000 posts for doctors are lying vacant in the state hospitals and many departments lack specialized doctors.

Another issue highlighted by the delegation was related to the transfers. The office bearers said that among the doctors transferred recently, some were of level 5 and they were transferred to districts where there is no post of level 5 doctors.

They also appealed to start a certificate course for all doctors in the government sector so that in next few years all doctors become specialists and offer better services to the patients coming to government hospitals.

“Doctors are ready to work but they need good working conditions,” said Dr Yadav.

There is a medical protection act that prohibits violence against doctors but it hardly protects them. DR ASHOK YADAV, president, PMSA