Disparity over NPA release vexes medical officers at Patiala college

Patiala: Medical Officers (MO) pursuing postgraduate courses at Government Medical College (GMC), Patiala, are allegedly not getting Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA), whereas their counterparts at Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, are reportedly being paid the same allowance. This issue of alleged disparity has left the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association irked.Around two weeks ago, the PCMS Association claimed to have convened a meeting with Punjab health minister at his Patiala office, and requested him to address the issue, but the effort went in vain.“During the meeting, the association was assured timely action to rectify the situation. However, despite the promises made by the health minister, there has been no tangible progress in ensuring the payment of the allowance,” said Dr Mehtab Ball, one of the affected officers and press secretary of PCMS Association.Explaining the issue, Dr Mehtab said, “The NPA to Medical Officers pursuing PG courses was stopped by the government in 2014, following which a writ petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana high court. The court gave interim relief to petitioners in 2019 and ordered the government to pay NPA to these MO – PG. However, in 2020, the state government filed LPA in the court and the matter is sub-judice. The MO – PG in GMC Amritsar are getting NPA, whereas the medical officers at GMC Patiala are not getting this NPA. There are a total of more than 100 MOs in both government medical colleges”.The PCMSA alleged that this disparity has resulted in decrease in salaries of medical officers. Dr Harinder Gill, Patiala president of the association, said that the affected medical officers and the PCMS Association are urging the department to expedite the process for resolution of this disparity in giving NPA. He said the timely action is crucial to address the grievances of medical officers and to maintain the morale and dedication of healthcare professionals working in government institutions.