In Punjab, private hospitals stay shut over new rules

CHANDIGARH: The one-day strike called by the Punjab chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) crippled the health services — both outpatient departments (OPDs) and emergency services — at all private hospitals in the state.
All private health facilities remained closed on Tuesday in protest against the decision of the government to enforce the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA) by the way of an ordinance. Patients unaware of the strike had to face inconveniences as they reached hospitals only to return back. The private health sector caters to about 70% of the population of the state.
Holding the Congress government responsible for inconveniences caused to patients, IMA maintained that the unwanted situation arose due to negligence on part of the state government and demanded that it should immediately defer the implementation of the Act and engage in talks with them.
IMA, Punjab, general secretary Dr Paramjit Mann said the new regulation was brought in hurry without taking IMA Punjab, the biggest stakeholder, into confidence.
“We had submitted memorandums to the government through elected representatives and deputy commissioners demanding immediate withdrawal, but the government ignored our demands. It seems that the government has become insensitive and is least bothered about the health of people,” allaged Dr Mann.While defending the decision to go on strike amidst Covid-19 outbreak, he said: “In such a situation we were left with no alternative than to shut down our hospitals to wake the government out of its deep slumber. If the government even now fails to meet our genuine demands, we will be forced to escalate the agitation, which we are not in favour of due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Under pressure to resolve the issues, the state government has reached out to IMA and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh will hold a meeting with them on June 26.