Karnal: Tensions Rise Among Healthcare Professionals in Haryana

Strike Announcement by Government Doctors

In Haryana, a potential division within the health cadre appears imminent as government doctors have declared a strike. Their primary demand is the termination of direct recruitment for Senior Medical Officers (SMOs). Conversely, postgraduate specialist doctors have opted not to participate in the strike, indicating a divergence in opinions within the medical community.

Details of the Strike

Doctors affiliated with the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association plan to halt all healthcare services on December 8 and 9. This protest aims to contest the direct recruitment of SMOs, a process that has not seen implementation since 2012. However, directly recruited specialist doctors argue that such recruitment is crucial for addressing several pending government-approved demands, including the formation of a specialist cadre within the Health Department. This cadre was sanctioned in 2024 but remains unimplemented, leading to dissatisfaction among specialists who view direct recruitment as vital for their professional advancement.

Clarification from Specialist Doctors

The specialist doctors emphasize that they do not oppose the promotion of medical officers to SMO positions, but they insist that their rights must remain intact. They have committed to maintaining uninterrupted healthcare services statewide and will not take part in the upcoming strike.

Warnings from the HCMS Association

The HCMS Association has issued a stern warning to the state government, threatening to suspend all healthcare services, including outpatient care, emergency services, post-mortems, labor rooms, and surgical units on December 8 and 9 if their longstanding demands are not met. They also indicated that an open-ended strike would commence on December 10 if no resolution is achieved, following a meeting where members voiced their frustration over the government’s perceived indifference to their legitimate concerns.

Unfulfilled Promises and Vacant Positions

Doctors have expressed feelings of betrayal, citing unfulfilled promises made by the government over a year ago. A key unresolved issue is the commitment to cease direct hiring of SMOs and promote from within instead, contingent on necessary changes to service regulations. The association highlighted that 200 out of the sanctioned SMO positions remain vacant, with 160 still designated for direct recruitment due to uncompleted rule amendments.

Concerns from Directly Recruited Specialists

In contrast, directly recruited specialist doctors contend that halting direct recruitment undermines their longstanding demands. A postgraduate specialist, speaking anonymously, stated, “We are not against the promotion of any medical officer to SMO, but our rights should not be compromised. Direct recruitment of SMOs must be implemented to protect our career prospects.”

Issues Surrounding Pay Disparities

The Finance Department had issued a notification on August 16, 2024, approving the creation of a specialist cadre with a defined pay band, mentioning the cessation of six increments once the cadre was established. However, the cadre has yet to be implemented. Specialists argue that both postgraduate-qualified doctors and MBBS-qualified medical officers receive equal treatment in terms of designation and pay scale, which they deem fundamentally unfair.

Implementation Challenges and Legislative Responses

The introduction of the specialist cadre was the result of prolonged advocacy by the HCMSA and was expected to enhance healthcare services by deploying qualified specialists to various healthcare facilities. States like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have successfully implemented such cadres, raising questions about Haryana’s delays.

The issue was also addressed in the Haryana Assembly, where Rohtak MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra sought clarification. Health Minister Arti Singh Rao acknowledged the need for amendments to the Haryana Civil Medical (Group-A) Service Rules, 2014, which are currently in progress.

Conclusion and Ongoing Discussions

The specialist doctors are urging for a prompt response to their demands. Dr. Manish Bansal, Director General of Health Services, stated that the matter remains under consideration by the Finance Department. He noted that while some demands were accepted and others rejected, ongoing discussions aim to reach consensus among the various groups of doctors regarding the future of SMO recruitment.