Haryana (Balwinder Singh): Government doctors across Haryana began a two-day strike on Monday, following directives from the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), disrupting routine medical services across the state. The doctors are demanding a halt to direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and the formal notification of the already approved Modified Assured Career Progression (ACP) structure.
The strike impacted outpatient departments (OPDs), emergency services, and elective surgeries in multiple districts. In Karnal, authorities deployed consultants, directly recruited specialists, and doctors from Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC) to manage patient care. However, the measures were insufficient to handle the hospital’s heavy daily patient load of approximately 1,500, resulting in long waiting times.
Dr. Sanjay Verma, district president of HCMSA, said, “We did not want to go on strike, but our demands have been ignored for too long. We have resorted to mass leave for two days.” He also issued a warning that the association could escalate to an indefinite strike starting December 10 if their grievances are not addressed.
The strike comes after multiple rounds of discussions with state officials. On December 3, HCMSA representatives met with Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Rajpal, and senior officials. This was followed by a December 5 meeting with Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary to the CM Rajesh Khullar, Sudhir Rajpal, and Director General Health Dr. Manish Bansal. While the state agreed to halt the direct recruitment of SMOs, the request for implementing the modified ACP structure remains pending.
Some medical staff, including directly recruited specialists, continued to work during the strike. Civil Surgeon Dr. Poonam Chaudhary stated, “We have arranged for consultants, directly recruited specialists, and doctors from KCGMC to maintain essential services. So far, no major disruptions have been reported.”
Patients expressed inconvenience due to the strike. Angrej, a visitor to Karnal District Civil Hospital, said, “I came to see my regular doctor, but had to consult someone else. There were long queues, and I waited for over two hours.”
The ongoing strike highlights growing frustration among Haryana’s government doctors over delayed implementation of promised career benefits, leaving the state’s healthcare system under strain as negotiations continue.
