In Punjab, YDA’s rural wing challenges decision once again

Petition challenging withdrawal of allowances to be heard on Monday.

RAWALPINDI:

Young Doctors Association (YDA)’s rural chapter has once again challenged the Punjab government’s decision to withdraw ad-hoc relief allowance granted by the centre, after losing the case in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi of the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench will take up the petition filed by the president of YDA’s rural wing, Dr Asadullah, on Monday for preliminary hearing.

“If the decision is not reversed, rural doctors will resign,” said Dr Asadullah while talking to The Express Tribune. The withdrawal will affect 3,200 doctors working in basic health units and rural health centres in Punjab

In 2010, the federal government introduced for rural doctors an ad-hoc relief allowance equivalent to 50 per cent of the doctors’ salaries to motivate them to work in remote areas. The government stated that doctors whose existing salary was more than the Practice Compensatory Allowance (PCA) – the amount being given to rural doctors by the Punjab government since 2005 – would be paid by the centre.

Prior to this notification, the Punjab government paid rural doctors PCA equivalent to 150 per cent of the basic salary under the health sector reforms programme, according to Dr Asadullah. When the federal government announced another ad-hoc relief for rural doctors in 2010, the Punjab government changed the notification to make it equivalent to initial basic salary instead of existing basic salary, he said. The provincial government took the stance that rural doctors’ allowances exceeded their salaries and they could not be given one additionally, he added.

The rural YDA representative said they challenged the notification in 2010 and obtained a stay from the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench.

Last month, the Punjab government’s orders were upheld by the high court and the doctors’ salaries will be deducted from December to recover allowances paid in excess.

YDA has filed another petition, claiming the Punjab government’s decision would discourage rural doctors from carrying out their duties. Citing Punjab chief minister, secretary health and secretary finance as respondents, the petitioner has challenged the withdrawal by the provincial government.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2012.