BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said the Punjab government’s order to “rationalize” medical staff from SHCs would leave rural dispensaries without adequate staff. File photo | Photo Credit: PTI
On January 27, amid efforts to open 400 more ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’, the Punjab government’s move to “rationalise” the staff posted at Subsidiary Health Centers (SHCs) in the state has drawn sharp criticism from the medical fraternity and political parties. Critics say the decision will pave the way for the transfer of doctors and other staff from the SHCs, who serve the rural population.
Punjab’s Department of Health and Family Welfare has recently sent a letter to all Deputy Commissioners-cum-Chairmen of District Health Societies and Civil Surgeons, giving directions for “rationalization and administrative control of human resources” deployed in SHCs Huh. Working under Rural Development and Panchayat Department.
Expressing concern over this move, President of Punjab Rural Medical Services Association (RMSA) Dr. Aslam Parvez said on Thursday hindu, “In 2006, a policy was brought in by the then government and under a ‘non-transferable’ clause, many doctors were appointed to SHCs to strengthen the peripheral rural health system. The objective was to retain doctors in rural areas, but our fear is under the guise of rationalisation, doctors will now be transferred, thereby weakening rural healthcare.
Holding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government responsible for the “collapsing rural healthcare” in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed the move to open 400 more ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ an attempt to divert attention from its neglect. Health of Punjab.
BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said the Punjab government’s order to “rationalize” medical staff from SHCs would leave rural dispensaries without adequate staff.
“It is actually a move to shift doctors from rural dispensaries to common man clinics. This will leave rural dispensaries without doctors, and will do nothing less than shut down these facilities that came into existence decades ago. This would mean that health services in rural areas would end and wreak havoc.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the order, Mr Shergill said the government should ensure that all necessary medicines and equipment are made available to the rural SHCs.