Haryana Govt Doctors observe two-hour pen down strike over pending demands

Chandigarh: The doctors in all government hospitals and medical centres of Haryana observed a two-hour pen-down strike on July 15, 2023, over pending demands including the creation of a Specialist cadre, PG course bond reduction, to stop Direct Recruitment of SMO and provision of ACP. 

The Haryana Civil Medical Service (HCMS) Association announced on Sunday that doctors in all government hospitals and medical centres of Haryana will go on a two-hour pen-down strike on Monday.

According to an ANI report, during the pen-down strike from 9 am to 11 am on July 15, all OPD (Outpatient Department) Services will remain disrupted, while services at various government hospitals and medical centres in the state are likely to remain affected.

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The doctors said that if the government does not accept their demands, they will go on an indefinite strike after July 25.

Bharat Saharan, head of the association in Fatehabad, said that there had been a strike earlier too regarding their demands, during which the then Health Minister Anil Vij had assured that the government was considering their demands and they would be fulfilled soon, but till now this has not happened. Nothing has happened. Due to this they are forced to go on strike, the government is responsible for this. Their demand from the government is that there is a huge shortage of specialists in government hospitals, a separate cadre of specialists should be created. The amount of PG bond should be reduced, reports Amar Ujala. 

The reason stated behind the strike is a strong resentment among the members due to the insensitive and callous attitude of the government towards the long pending genuine demands of the HCMS association.

The announcement of the strike came after a meeting of the state core committee of HCM, which was held on July 2, 2024.

Doctors have four long-standing demands related to their promotions and career progressions.

The official announcement reads, "A meeting of the state core committee of HCMS association was held on 02/07/24 to update about the status of demands. There is a strong resentment among the members due to the insensitive and callous attitude of the government towards the long pending genuine demands of the HCMS association. After a mutual agreement between the government and the HCMS association, the doctors had deferred their agitation six months ago. It is unfortunate that even after six months none of the issues have been resolved as promised by the government. The members of the HCMS association are considering it as a BREECH OF TRUST", news agency ANI reported.

"Out of the four important issues, two issues (Specialist cadre & PG course bond reduction) are moving at a snail's pace. Proposals regarding two other issues (Amendment in service, rules to stop Direct Recruitment of SMO & provision of ACP, and Allowances at par with central government doctors) have not even been initiated by DGHS office."

"Out of 3900 posts of MO around 1100 posts, out of 636 posis of SMO 250 posts and out of 8 posts of Director, 5 posts are lying vacant. There is acute shortage of specialist in the state government hospitals. But the proposal of specialist cadre has been stuck up in finance department for last four months even after approval of Hon'ble CM.

The proposal regarding reduction of PG bond amount has not been resolved in last six months. The file of routine promotion of doctors (MO to SMOQ) is also being delayed for last one and a half years and doctors who joined as MO in 2002 are still waiting to be promoted."

They further said, "It is really pathetic that Doctors (class 1 officers) are struggling even for the basic issues like routine promotion, ACP, Probation clearance etc. and are being exploited."

"It was decided in the meeting of the State Core Committee of HCMS that State & District's office bearers will hold a demonstration at DGHS office on 8 July. Subsequently, All HCMS doctors will be observing pen down strike for two hours (9-11 AM) on 15" July 2024. It was also decided that in case there is no positive development till then regarding our demands then HCMS doctors all over the State will be forced to completely shut down all the services (including postmortem and emergency) indefinitely from 25" July onwards."

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