Haryana Govt Doctors Shut OPDs for Two Hours, Demand Halt to Direct Hiring of SMOs

Government doctors across Haryana observed a two-hour pen-down strike Thursday, shutting OPD services from 9 am to 11 am to press long-pending demands. The agitation, called by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), saw participation from hundreds of doctors statewide, though emergency and labour room services functioned normally.

Main Demands

Protesting doctors reiterated two main demands: immediate halt to direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and issuance of notification for the modified Assured Career Progression (ACP) structure. The ACP has reportedly received Chief Minister approval but remains pending with the Finance Department. The strike was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was deferred due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kurukshetra.

Patient Impact Varies

Many districts witnessed patient inconvenience despite administrative claims of deploying consultants and NHM doctors to manage OPDs. Several hospitals reported delays even in issuing OPD slips. "I came to know about the strike after reaching hospital. The doctors should have informed earlier. Now, we have no option but to wait," said Sandeep Kumar, a patient in Karnal.

Dr Deepak Goyal, HCMSA state treasurer, warned the agitation would continue until demands are met. "The government's move to directly recruit SMOs is unacceptable. Existing doctors should be promoted instead," he stated.

Pay Scale Disparities

HCMSA Karnal district president Dr Sanjay Verma highlighted pay-scale disparities, noting that even after the CM's announcement, the ACP notification remains stuck. "We want pay scale upgrade from Rs 8,700 to Rs 9,500, bringing us on par with medical college doctors," he explained.

The association has scheduled a state body meeting November 30 to decide the next protest phase.

District-wise Response

Hisar saw OPD services affected as MOs protested under Dr Anish Chahal's leadership. State president Dr Rajesh Khaliya said repeated government requests went unnoticed. "The protest will continue until the government changes policy," he warned. Dr Ajit Lathar noted several Health Minister meetings yielded only assurances. Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh Civil Hospitals witnessed long queues with suspended OPDs. SMO Dr Ajay Garg confirmed complete doctor participation but maintained emergency and labour rooms remained functional. 

Gurugram and Faridabad reported minimal impact as most doctors didn't join. Conversely, Panipat, Sirsa, Sonepat, Rohtak and Yamunanagar saw significant disruptions, with doctors later working beyond OPD hours to clear backlogs. HCMSA units in these districts await state body directions for next steps.