Agitating doctors call off token protest

Agitating doctors postponed token protest against the decision to close of Non-Practice Allowance (NPA) in Himachal to doctors.

The decision was taken in the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting of the Allopathic Doctors Association held on Saturday with Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu. 

President of Himachal Medical Officers Association, Dr. Rajesh Rana informed that the Chief Minister has accepted many of their demands and assured to complete some soon, after which the doctors’ pen-down strike has been called off from today. 

Chief Minister Sukhu said that the NPA of serving doctors has not been closed.

This decision will apply only to new recruits.

” Since no new recruitment is being done now the government would review this decision while new recruitment of doctors to be done.  

Similarly, other demands of the doctors were also discussed in the meeting.  After the Chief Minister’s assurance, the doctors decided to call off their strike.

It is noteworthy that on May 29, 2023, the Himachal government decided to close the NPA of new doctors admitted to the Medical College, Hospital, Ayurvedic, Dental College, and Animal Husbandry Department.  

Since Monday, all the doctors across the state remained on pen-down strike from 9.30 am to 11 am from last Monday to Wednesday. 

 After a meeting with Industries Minister Harsh Vardhan late on Wednesday, the doctors reduced the duration of the pen-down strike to 45 minutes. Due to this, the patients in all the hospitals also had to face problems in the morning. 

It is worthwhile to mention that the government is providing 20 percent NPA of the basic salary after signing a bond with the State government.