Haryana Government Doctors’ Strike Disrupts Healthcare Services

Chandigarh, July 25 2024 :  Patients across Haryana faced significant disruptions as government doctors went on strike Thursday, demanding the fulfillment of long-pending demands. The Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association initiated a shutdown of health services in government hospitals to protest against unmet promises by the state government.

At Civil Hospital in Sonepat, doctors staged a protest while a long queue of patients waited outside a closed OPD (Outpatient Department) window for registrations. The state government has urged the association to consider the impact of their strike on patients.

Four HCMS Association doctors, including President Dr. Rajesh Khyalia, have begun an indefinite hunger strike outside the office of the Director General, Health Services, in Panchkula. Their demands include the formation of a specialist cadre, a career progression scheme ensuring parity with central government doctors, no direct recruitment of senior medical officers (SMOs), and a reduction in the bond amount for postgraduate courses.

“Over the past several months, we have been given repeated assurances pertaining to our various demands, but they remain unfulfilled. So, we have decided to observe a total shutdown of health services, including OPD, emergency, and post-mortem,” Khyalia said on Wednesday.

He added, “On July 18, we were assured by the additional chief secretary, health, that a notification would be issued before July 24 pertaining to two demands – assured career progression and the bond issue – but nothing has happened. We had informed the government a month ago that we would be compelled to shut down all services from July 25 if our demands were not met.”

Responding to the government’s invitation for talks on Thursday, Khyalia stated, “We will attend the meeting, but if there is no outcome, then our strike will continue indefinitely.”

Health Minister Kamal Gupta, in a letter to the HCMS Association, urged doctors to consider the impact of their strike on the general public. “I understand that numerous pressing demands have been put forth by your members, and I want to assure you that these concerns are being taken very seriously,” he said.

The minister further explained, “Recently, I held a productive meeting with the chief minister and other senior officers to discuss these matters extensively. We recognize the importance of your demands and are actively working towards a resolution that will be satisfactory to all parties involved.”

“However, I urge each one of you to consider the impact of a strike on our patients and the general public. We have a responsibility to ensure that healthcare services remain uninterrupted, especially for those who rely on us in their times of need,” the minister emphasized.