Pb govt docs wear black badges to oppose fee hike in medical education

Bathinda: Members of Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), a body of government doctors, on Wednesday wore black badges to oppose the state government’s move to hike fee for medical education.

Punjab paramedical and health workers’ union supported the protests. In some places, PCMSA members also gathered briely together with placards to denounce the hike.

The protests were held in Moga, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Barnala, Mukatsar, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur and Patiala.

In Moga, PCMSA state president Dr Gagandeep Singh said, "The government has hiked medical education fee by 77%. The fee for MBBS course was earlier Rs 4.4 lakh, but it has been hiked to Rs 7.8 lakh. The fee is almost impossible for poor and middle class families to pay,” he said.

PCMSA general secretary Dr Manohar Singh and senior vice-president Dr Gagandeep Singh Shergill said medical services and education were the government’s duty, but it was looking for profit in it, which is not the rule of a welfare state. The government must take back the decision.” he said.

Tapa SMO Dr Jasbir Aulakh pointed out that after the hike, medical education in Punjab will be the most expensive in the country. “Even Supreme Court had ruled in the past that only 15% hike should be enforced after three years,” he said.

He said the move seemed to benefit private colleges and this would impact meritorious students. “Those who will have their names in the merit will not be able to afford the education, while those having money will become doctors,” added Shergill.