Haryana government invites docs for talks on July 16
In a letter issued to the president of the association, the director general health services, Haryana, said a meeting has been scheduled under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary, health, to discuss the demands raised by doctors
Hours after doctors under the banner of Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) observed a two-hour strike on Monday against the state government for not heeding to their demands, the health department invited them for talks on Tuesday at 4 pm.
In a letter issued to the president of the association, the director general health services (DGHS), Haryana, said a meeting has been scheduled under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary (ACS), health, to discuss the demands raised by doctors.
Hitting OPD services at government health facilities, the doctors observed a strike from 9 am to 11 am. The HCMSA has been demanding a specialist cadre of doctors, no direct recruitment of senior medical officers (SMOs), change in post-graduation policy and a dynamic assured career progression (ACP) scheme.
The association had observed a “Black Day” on July 1 on National Doctors’ Day. The body had suspended emergency, labour, post-mortem, jail services and other health services in the state on December 29 last year in support of their demands.
Dr Sandeep Abrol, Karnal district president of the body, said that despite several meetings at different levels and assurances, there has been no solution to our demands.
“There is a dearth of doctors in the state and the government is not ready to listen to us. Existing doctors are already under stress due to VIP duty, court duty and other government duties,” he said.
Due to the strike, patients who arrived early in the morning had to wait for several hours as the OPD services resumed after 11 am.
There was no rush of patients at Karnal civil hospital as it rained heavily in the morning. However, the impact on health services was reported at civil hospitals in Ambala, Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra.
Dr Deepak Goyal, state treasurer of the body, said: “We assured the patients who had arrived in the morning that we will extend working hours to check all patients at our OPDs. Our main demand is to create a specialist cadre, which is in the interest of the patients, as it will help them to get special treatment at their nearby health centres and they won’t have to travel to far-flung areas.”
P’kula doctors protest over unfulfilled demands
Seeking implementation of long-pending demands, doctors held protest for two hours from 9 am to 11 am on Monday.
Doctors from the hospital, including those from Raipur Rani, Kalka, Pinjore and various dispensaries demonstrated throughout the day. Only a few doctors remained working at the emergency ward of the civil hospital.
Dr Mandeep, a medical officer at the Sector 6 hospital, said, “Our pending demands were accepted by the health department over six months ago, but have not been implemented.”
He added that there is a huge shortage of specialist doctors at all civil and other government hospital in the state.
“The state should put a stop on direct hiring of senior medical officers (SMOs). Many doctors continue working without promotion for years. The direct hiring of should be stopped and doctors should be promoted in time,” the doctors said.
