The doctors called off their strike after assurance from the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh that their demands would be considered sympathetically, provided the Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA) will withdraw their petition from the State High Court to which the HMOA agreed for the same and promised to withdraw the petition.
In a meeting of Himachal Medical Officers Association with the Chief Minister, that lasted for over an hour in Vidhan Sabha CMs office, it was decided that the proposal to amend the Himachal Pradesh Medicare Services Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (prevention of violence and damage to property), Act, 2010, and make it a non–bailable offence, the Chief Minister said that the proposal to amend the Act will be brought to the Cabinet for discuss.
The demand regarding grant of four tier pay scales including those on contract, Rogi Kalyan Samitis and adhoc services to all HPHS-I was agreed upon by the government.
Consensus was reached upon on the issue of earned leave. It was decided that the power of sanctioning leave upto 30 days will vest with the Chief Medical Officers, for leave period upto 3 months will rest Directorate Health Services and for more than three months the secretary health will be the leave sanctioning authority.
As per the demand of withdrawing notification regarding Medical officers as Food Safety Officers, it was agreed upon and conveyed that it was an interim measure and would be removed as early as possible.
After detailed discussion it was agreed upon by HMOA that the doctors will prescribe medicines in clear and legible words. Further it was also agreed upon that the doctors will prescribe generic medicines of reputed firms except in case of serious ailments where the patient requires specific treatment and medicines.
On assurance of the Chief Minister, the HMOA agreed that the appointments of programme officers would be made keeping in view the seniority.
Regarding the demand of defining duty hours for doctors, it was agreed that the doctors’ services were essential and they need to be available to the public at all time and their demand of fixing timings for duty was dropped.
Regarding the demand of the association for 90 percent seats for regular HPHS-I , the matter would be discussed in the Cabinet said the Chief Minister along with the matter for creation of posts of senior medical superintendents.
The demand regarding regularisation of contractual medical officers after five years of continuous service, it was decided to accept the same provided the recruiting of doctors on adhoc basis would be examined.
The Chief Minister also accepted the demand of Telephone allowance to the contract medical officers.
Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, Transport and Food and Civil Supply Minister G.S. Bali, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil, Secretary Health P.C. Dhiman were present in the meeting.
