Doctors in Haryana Announce Indefinite Strike Over Unfulfilled Demands

In a significant development in Haryana, the state's government doctors have declared an indefinite strike starting July 25th, following months of unmet demands and assurances from the government. The Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association, representing these doctors, has called for the shutdown of all health services in government hospitals, including outpatient, emergency, and post-mortem services.

The protest, which escalated when four HCMS Association doctors, including its president Dr. Rajesh Khyalia, began an indefinite hunger strike, aims to address several key issues. Among their demands are the formation of a specialist cadre, a career progression scheme aligning with central government standards, a halt to the direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), and a reduction in the bond amount required for postgraduate courses.

Dr. Khyalia highlighted the association's frustrations, stating, "We have received repeated assurances over the past months, but our demands remain unfulfilled. Hence, we have decided to shut down all health services starting tomorrow."

The government's failure to issue a promised notification regarding career progression and bond reduction by July 24th has been a significant trigger for the strike. Despite a meeting scheduled for July 18th with additional chief secretary of health, the anticipated outcomes did not materialize, leading to the current escalation.

Health Minister Kamal Gupta, in a letter to the HCMS Association, acknowledged the legitimacy of the doctors' demands but urged them to consider the strike's impact on the public. "We are actively working towards a resolution that will be satisfactory to all parties involved," he assured, emphasizing the necessity of uninterrupted healthcare services.

Previously, on July 15th, government doctors had staged a two-hour strike, affecting outpatient services across the state. The HCMS Association, representing around 3,000 doctors, argues that the current requirement of submitting bonds worth ?1 crore each for postgraduate admissions is excessively high and should be significantly reduced. They also contend that the direct recruitment of SMOs stifles career growth for many medical officers who have served for decades.

In Panchkula, the strike intensified as Dr. Khyalia, along with association vice-president Virender Kumar and district presidents Mandeep Saini and Mandeep Kumar, commenced their hunger strike outside the Director General of Health Services' office. The association is demanding four Assured Career Progression (ACP) increments similar to those provided to central government doctors and those in other states, such as Bihar. Currently, Haryana doctors receive ACP increments in their fifth, tenth, and fifteenth years of service, whereas the association seeks increments in the fourth, ninth, thirteenth, and twentieth years.

Additional demands include scrapping the direct appointment of SMOs to create more promotion opportunities, reducing bond amounts for postgraduate courses, and increasing the monthly conveyance allowance six-fold to ?3,000.

Despite assurances from state health officials on July 18th regarding the fulfillment of these demands, including ACP increments and bond reductions, no actions have been taken, prompting the association to proceed with the strike. As the situation unfolds, the healthcare sector in Haryana faces significant disruptions, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution that addresses the doctors' grievances while maintaining essential health services for the public.

Reference -

Haryana Doctors' Body Calls For Strike At Government Hospitals Today (NDTV)

Haryana?doctors go on hunger strike; ‘complete stir from today’ (The Hindu)