The decision was communicated during a meeting between PCMSA representatives and senior health officials
The Punjab government has agreed in principle to deploy round-the-clock security at state-run hospitals, following a spate of violent incidents. According to the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), guards from the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO) will be stationed at hospitals across the state to ensure staff safety and maintain public order.
The decision was communicated during a meeting between PCMSA representatives and senior health officials, including principal secretary for health and family welfare Kumar Rahul, director of health services Dr Hitinder Kaur, and director of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation Dr Anil Goyal.
PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sarin said the move follows a series of discussions involving health minister Dr Balbir Singh, principal secretary Kumar Rahul, and finance minister Harpal Cheema. It comes in the wake of two recent altercations at civil hospitals in Dera Bassi and Gurdaspur on 11 and 12 April, respectively.
The state’s finance department is understood to have given its nod to the proposal, which will cover all district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, and community health centres (CHCs) that handle medico-legal cases. Morning-hour security will also be arranged at other CHCs and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) hospitals.
Sarin said the formal proposal will be submitted to the finance department in the coming days, with approval expected within two to three weeks.
