Doctors’ strike enters third day in Karnal, emergency services commence

The ongoing strike by government doctors in Karnal entered its third day on Saturday, as doctors continued their protest against the alleged assault on a doctor posted at the Community Health Centre (CHC), Gharaunda, by an SHO and four other police personnel on the evening of March 4, Wednesday.

The protesting doctors, under the banner of the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), are demanding the registration of an FIR against SHO Deepak Kumar and the other police personnel allegedly involved in the incident.

However, SP Narender Bijarniya has suspended the SHO and transferred him to the police lines, while Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh has assigned the inquiry to SDM Gharaunda.

During the first two days of the strike, doctors had suspended all health services at government hospitals across the district, including emergency services, OPD consultations, laboratory testing, maternity care, and post-mortem services. As a result, healthcare services came to a complete standstill, causing severe inconvenience to patients.

However, following a state-wide call by HCMSA to suspend only OPD services on March 7, doctors in Karnal resumed all kinds of emergency services on Saturday, while keeping OPD services closed. It gave a major relief to patients coming in for emergencies.

Meanwhile, doctors staged a dharna at the premises of the District Civil Hospital to press their demand for the registration of an FIR against the SHO and the four police personnel.

Protesting doctors condemned the incident and said Dr Prashant Chauhan, who was on duty at the Gharaunda CHC on the day of Holi, was allegedly manhandled by SHO and four police personnel.

Police forcibly took Dr Chauhan, causing resentment among doctors.

A meeting of the district body was held with state HCMSA in Karnal, in which they decided to continue the strike by suspending OPD services till further decision.

“Since, the HCMSA has given a call to close OPD services only, so we have also decided to suspend only OPD services in our district. We have started all emergency, and post-mortem services,” said Dr Sanjay Verma, district president HCMSA Karnal.

“Our only request is to the district administration to register the FIR against the SHO and others,” he added.

Meanwhile, Civil Surgeon Dr. Poonam Chaudhary appealed to doctors to resume their duties as the DC and SP assured justice. “Doctors have started emergency services and I am hopeful they will resume other services soon,” said Dr Chaudhary.

DC Uttam Singh, SP Narender Bijarniya assured the doctors a fair and independent inquiry from any senior official.