Chandigarh: Doctors under the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association have issued a strong warning to the State Government, declaring that all healthcare services—including OPD, emergency care, labour rooms, post-mortems, and surgical units—will be suspended on December 8 and 9 if their demands continue to remain unaddressed. The association has indicated a complete shutdown of services across government hospitals during the two-day protest.
Threat of Indefinite Strike From December 10
The HCMS Association further announced that if no meaningful response is received, an indefinite strike will begin on December 10. The decision was finalised during a meeting of the Association’s State Action Committee, where doctors expressed serious disappointment over what they called the government’s indifferent and non-responsive approach toward their long-pending issues.
Anger Over Unfulfilled Government Promises
Doctors stated that they feel betrayed as commitments made by the government more than a year ago remain unfulfilled. A key grievance concerns the promise to discontinue direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and to fill these posts through promotions after amending service rules. Despite this assurance, 200 SMO posts continue to remain vacant, with 160 still marked for direct recruitment as rule modifications have not been implemented.
Association Slams Delay in Policy Decisions
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Rajesh Khyalia, president of the HCMS Association, reiterated the demand to stop direct recruitment to SMO posts and to ensure they are filled through proper promotions. He added that doctors have been waiting for the promised Assured Career Progressions (ACPs), which, although approved by the Chief Minister and the Finance Department, have not yet been formally notified. He emphasised that doctors do not wish to disrupt healthcare services but warned that persistent delays leave them with no choice.
ACP Structure Yet to Be Officially Implemented
The association originally demanded four ACPs at 4, 9, 13, and 20 years of service, in alignment with central government norms. Last year, the State Government agreed to revise the ACP structure to three slabs—at 5 years (6600 GP), 10 years (8000 GP), and 15 years (9500 GP). However, despite this agreement, the revised structure has not been formally adopted, contributing to the growing frustration among the medical cadre.
Concerns Over Direct Recruitment Into Administrative Posts
Another major concern raised by the HCMS Association relates to direct appointment of specialists to administrative SMO posts. The doctors argue that such appointments undermine the promotional rights of those in the service hierarchy. They suggested alternative measures, such as Specialist Incentives, Ayushman Incentives, or optional NPA, to retain specialists while protecting fair promotional pathways.
Doctors Say Government Delays Are Affecting Cadre Morale
The association highlighted that continuous delays in fulfilling long-standing commitments have severely affected the morale of government doctors. They noted that unresolved policy matters, particularly concerning promotions and financial progression, continue to create stagnation and frustration across the medical workforce in Haryana.
Call for Immediate Government Action
With the threat of a complete shutdown looming, the HCMS Association urged the government to resolve the pending issues without further delay. The doctors stressed that timely action is crucial to avoid large-scale disruption of healthcare services and to restore trust between the medical community and the administration.
