The British Medical Association is going to organize voting of more than 100,000 doctors and medical students over the controversial public-sector pension reforms. It is the first time since 1975 that such kind of a voting will happen to take the decision that whether or not industrial action should be taken.

The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said that he is not happy with the industrial action plan. He further affirmed that all things were made clear to all the medical staff in last year meeting. All the trade unions were present and confirmed to abide by the changes except Unite as it was not present at the meeting.

The unions have not abided by their promise and they have started organizing strikes. The pension reforms will get active from 2015 in which doctors would need to pay additional £200,000 in their pension contribution. They will also be working eight more years and will be retiring at the age of 68 years.

Dr. Hamish Meldrum, who is the Chairman of the BMA council, affirmed, “The NHS pension scheme is in a strong financial position and the economic downturn does not affect that as staff have already accepted responsibility for covering any future cost increases”.

It is said that the NHS reform bill is becoming a bundle of confusions and some of the prominent political members, including former NHS Chief Executive Lord Crisp has also asked to take out a solution and that too soon.

The BMA said that they are organizing the ballot as they want to end the confusion. The secret voting will also declare what the medical fraternity wants. However, till now a majority of the NHS members are against the bill and want that the bill should be rejected.