Docs’ strike: Health services remain functional in Ambala, Kurukshetra

The health services, including the OPDs and other emergency services, remained functional even on the second day of the strike given by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) over the long-pending demands, on Tuesday, in Ambala.

However, while no doctor was on strike on Monday, seven participated in the strike on Tuesday at the CHC-level medical facilities on Tuesday in Ambala.

During a visit to the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment, all OPDs were found to be functional and the doctors were seen attending to the patients.

A doctor attending to the patients said “Though the association had given the call of strike, but we decided to keep visiting the patients, as they come from far away locations to get treated at the hospital. However, we also request the government to accept the demands of the association.”

Ambala Civil Surgeon Dr Rakesh Sehal said, “On Tuesday, of 144 doctors in the district, seven doctors participated in the strike. They (seven doctors) had applied for leave but were rejected. However, despite the seven going on strike, the services were not affected as adequate staff was available to ensure uninterrupted services. All doctors were present at the Civil Hospitals in Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment.”

Similarly, in Kurukshetra, Civil Surgeon Dr Sukhbir Singh informed that 18 doctors were on strike but the health services remained unaffected due the availability of additional staff.

The civil surgeon said, “On Monday, 23 doctors were on strike, while on Tuesday, 18 were on strike but adequate staff was available and the health services, including the OPDs, operation theater, postmortem, SNCU and other emergency services, were functional. Adequate doctors were available in the backup but there was no need to deploy the additional staff.”