Haryana Doctors Stage Two-Hour Strike, OPD Services Disrupted Amid Demands for Career Progression

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Chandigarh: Government doctors in Haryana observed a two-hour pen-down strike on Thursday, affecting outpatient department (OPD) services across the state. The strike, called by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association, demanded the implementation of a career progression scheme and an end to direct recruitment of senior medical officers (SMOs). According to Dr. Rajesh Khyalia, president of the HCMS Association, the government had previously agreed to stop direct recruitment of SMOs but has now reversed its decision. The association is also seeking the implementation of the assured progression scheme, which has been stuck in bureaucracy despite approval from the Chief Minister. The strike impacted OPD services at several locations, with patients facing inconvenience. However, the health department made arrangements to ensure smooth services, deploying approximately 400 doctors under the national healthcare initiative to man OPD services. The government also instructed civil surgeons and principal medical officers to keep OPDs running and utilize the services of consultants and contract medical officers. The HCMS Association fears that direct recruitment of SMOs will lead to stagnation in the cadre, limiting doctors to only one promotion and forcing many to take voluntary retirement due to lack of promotional avenues. The association will soon chart its further course of action to push for its demands.