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Haryana doctors to halt emergency services from December 29
Nearly 2,500 doctors are likely to take part in the strike; Dr Goyal said 17 bodies were ready for total suspension of services, while two proposed to form a small team of doctors to treat life-threatening emergencies outside the hospital, which was later accepted in a meeting with the DGHS.
A day after doctors went on a one-day strike and shut down outpatient department (OPD) services across the state under the banner of Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) on Wednesday, they have now decided to suspend emergency, labour, postmortem, jail services and other health services in the state for indefinite period in support of their pending demands from Friday.
HCMSA president Dr Rajesh Khyalia said during a late evening meeting with the director-general, health services (DGHS), it was assured that life-saving interventions would be done by a team of volunteer doctors in public interest, but the strike will remain.
Dr Deepak Goyal, state treasurer of the body, said, “Nearly 2,500 doctors are likely to take part in the strike. If there is any public harassment or any untoward incident, the government will be responsible for it.”
The association conducted an internal meeting earlier in the day, attended by 21 district bodies except Ambala, home district of health minister Vij.
Dr Goyal said 17 bodies were ready for total suspension of services, while two proposed to form a small team of doctors to treat life-threatening emergencies outside the hospital, which was later accepted in a meeting with the DGHS.
The HCMSA is demanding a specialist cadre of doctors, no direct recruitment of senior medical officers (SMOs), change in PG policy, dynamic assured career progression (ACP) scheme and others.
Dr Sandeep Abrol, Karnal district president of the body, said the doctors, currently, need to submit two surety bonds — ₹1 crore each —to pursue PG courses that was increased from ₹50 lakh each nearly two years ago.
“The association has in the past urged the government to withdraw the decision, a demand seconded by Vij himself, but no final decision has been taken so far,” he added.
The HCMSA president said doctors are quitting due to issues related to work overload, inappropriate working conditions, shortage of medicines, security lapses at workplace, and for being denied the status of a class I officer, while there is a dearth of specialist doctors in the state and some districts don’t have even a single specialist of a particular category.
Demands already accepted: Vij
On the other hand, the government didn’t issue any statement on Thursday and is holding back on the health minister’s statement issued a day before. Vij had already termed the strike unjustified saying that the main demand for approval of specialist cadre, according to him, has already been granted, with the chief minister also giving his consent.
Additionally, he had said the additional chief secretary, health, has approved the demand related to the PG policy, and the process is underway. Similarly, the demand related to the ACP scheme and direct recruitment of SMOs was also being considered.
In response, Dr Goyal said if the demands have already been accepted, the government should release an official notification.
