Haryana: Health services are affected in government hospitals

Doctors are quitting government jobs due to work overload, shortage of medicines etc...

Across the Haryana health services are affected in government hospitals as an estimated 2,500 doctors went on an indefinite strike on Friday after the call given by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA).

On Wednesday when the doctors had gone for one-day strike they shut down the outpatient department (OPD) service and threatened to go on an indefinite stir if their demands were not met from Friday. 

The doctors want the formation of a specialist cadre, no direct recruitment of senior medical officers, and reduction in bond amount for PG courses and a dynamic assured career progression scheme on a par with their central government counterparts.

HCMSA president Dr Rajesh Khyalia met the state director-general, health services (DGHS), on Thursday night and assured that life-saving interventions would be done by a team of volunteer doctors in public interest, but the strike would continue. The association has formed a team of doctors that will treat emergencies.

In an attempt to break the deadlock with the agitating doctors, state health minister Anil Vij will chair a meeting with HCMSA representatives in Chandigarh from 2pm on Friday.

Dr Sandeep Abrol, Karnal district president of HCMSA, said at present doctors need to submit two surety bonds of ₹1 crore each to pursue post-graduation 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 government jobs due to work overload, shortage of medicines, security lapses at the workplace, and for being denied the status of a class I officer, while there is a dearth of specialist doctors in the state.

The doctors said if the demands have already been accepted, the government should release an official notification.