HCMS Doctors Confirm Strike on December 8-9 After Talks Fail

The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) has confirmed its decision to proceed with a complete shutdown of medical services on December 8 and 9, 2023, following unsuccessful negotiations with the state’s Health Minister, Arti Rao. The meeting, held at Minister Rao’s residence in Chandigarh, failed to yield any significant progress on the association’s long-standing demands.

During the discussions, HCMSA representatives reiterated their call for the cessation of direct recruitment for Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and the implementation of the modified Assured Career Progression (ACP) structure, which has been pending for over 16 months. According to HCMSA state president Dr Rajesh Khyalia, both issues have been brought to the government’s attention multiple times without resolution, despite the government approving them last year.

The meeting included senior officials who, according to HCMSA, acknowledged the concerns but did not provide any firm commitments for resolution. The officials stated that the request to halt direct SMO recruitment would need to be escalated to the Chief Minister, while the Finance Department would review the matter regarding the ACP notification.

The HCMSA Action Committee expressed disappointment with the lack of progress, characterizing the outcome as indicative of ongoing bureaucratic delays that hinder timely solutions, even in the presence of what they described as “strong political will.”

In light of this, the HCMSA has confirmed that its members will move forward with the two-day strike, which will affect outpatient departments (OPD), emergency services, post-mortems, surgeries, VIP duties, and other essential services across the state. The association has also indicated the possibility of an indefinite strike starting on December 10 if their demands remain unmet.

This situation underscores the ongoing tensions between the government and medical professionals in Haryana, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and resolution to avoid further disruptions in healthcare services.