Mohali :
In a significant relief for more than 4,000 government doctors in Punjab, the Punjab Medical Council (PMC) has waived credit-hour fees for all government training programmes and workshops conducted by the Health Department.
The decision will allow doctors belonging to the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) cadre to earn mandatory credit hours free of cost through state-organised training sessions, workshops and capacity-building programmes. Earlier, many doctors had to attend private seminars and courses, often paying substantial fees, to obtain the credits required for renewal of their medical registration.
Under PMC regulations, doctors must accumulate 50 credit hours every five years to renew their registration. With the new policy, they will be able to meet this requirement through official government training programmes without incurring additional expenses.
The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) welcomed the move, describing it as a long-pending demand of government doctors. The association said a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) would soon be issued to facilitate the smooth claiming of credit hours by eligible doctors.
Apart from reducing the financial burden on medical professionals, the decision is also expected to give greater recognition to training and professional development programmes organised by the Health Department, thereby strengthening healthcare services across the state.
PCMSA expressed gratitude to the Health Minister, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Director Health Services and the Punjab Medical Council for supporting and approving the proposal. The association said the initiative would make professional development more accessible and help government doctors upgrade their skills while fulfilling mandatory registration requirements.
