Restructuring of GMCs: Punjab Doctors allege deep conspiracy for privatization; hold protest at GMC Patiala

Patiala: Hundreds of medical professionals in the state recently observed a massive protest against the Punjab government’s decision to transfer the administrative control of Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) to the private sector.

According to the doctors, the government was failing to maintain standards of the state-run institutes and that is why it has come up with this “deep conspiracy” to privatize the

GMCs.

The protest saw the participation of a large number of Senior and Junior Resident doctors, dental colleges’ faculty, nurses, paramedics, ministerial staff and class-4 employees demanding the government to revoke its decision.

They have demanded the state to decentralize the managerial powers to the administrative heads of various medical institutions and the budget allocation at par with Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh (

PGIMER) to make the institutes; financially viable and independent, reports TOI

In its commotion, the medical practitioners shut the OPD and OT services at the medical and dental colleges. The teaching faculty had also suspended the classes.

Speaking to the TOI, General Secretary, Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association, Dr DS Bhullar, termed the government’s move as a deep conspiracy. "The government seems incapable of running medical institutes. Under deep conspiracy, the control of government colleges are being handed over to the private players and this will prove disastrous for the future generation,” he added.

Medical Dialogues has been reporting about the issue of rigorous faculty crunch at Punjab GMCs. Last month only, nearly 40 per cent of the sanctioned posts of the medical teachers remain empty at GMCs in Amritsar and Patiala, wherein, super-speciality branches had the highest number of vacant posts.

Read Also: Over 40 per cent faculty Vacancies haunt GMCs in Punjab

Meanwhile, in March month’s Medical Colleges’ Assessment Report, MCI had pointed out the deficiencies stating that Patiala and Amritsar GMCs are facing 23 and 16 per cent faculty shortage, respectively; the state was on the verge of losing 100 MBBS seats amidst the dearth of it.

Read Also: Faculty Shortage: MCI points out Deficiencies at GMC Patiala, Amritsar; 100 MBBS seats in RISK