Doubling of MLA’s medical allowance flayed

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, December 12

The Senior Retired Punjab Civil Medical Services Association today criticised the state government for doubling the medical allowance of its present, former ministers and MLAs, while ignoring the same benefit to the present and former government employees.

In a statement issued here today, conveners of the association, Dr Ajay Bagga and Dr Kaushal Singh Saini, both former Civil Surgeons, stated previously like all government employees the VIPs used to get the benefit of medical allowance from private hospitals at the rate equal to the amount being charged at PGI Chandigarh or AIIMS Delhi.

They said now the state government has signed a memorandum with more than 30 leading private hospitals in the region under which the VIPs would be provided medical treatment at charges which these hospitals had been empanelled under Central Government Health Scheme.

These rates are almost double the rates applicable at the PGI and the AIIMS.

Representatives of the association stated the move to empanel leading hospitals for VIPs was initiated by the previous SAD-BJP government and had been finalised now.

Dr Bagga and Dr Saini urged Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Punjab Health Minister Braham Mohindra to allow the same benefit to the present and past government employees on the same pattern.

They said the VIPs become eligible for the medical treatment even after five years of tenure as the member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, whereas other employees had to serve for at least 20 years to get the same benefit.