Govt acting against Vij's order on direct recruitment of SMOs: Doctors

The doctors’ union is up in arms over the government decision to initiate direct recruitment for 160 posts of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), saying that it was against the decision of former health minister Anil Vij and will come in the way of their promotion.

The doctors across government hospitals wore black badges today, as a mark of protest.

In a letter to ACS (Health) Sudhir Rajpal, the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) said the direct recruitment, as mentioned in the minutes of the meeting dated November 4, was discussed at the HCMSA meeting. Vij had categorically directed to stop direct SMO recruitment, it said.

“Thereafter, last year also the association had to go on the path of agitation to get the service rules amended to stop this. It was assured at the highest level that no direct SMO recruitment will be done henceforth. Unfortunately, the process of recruitment of Direct SMO has been initiated once again,” it said.

Raising another issue of Assured Career Progression (ACP), the HCMS said last year, it was also agreed by the government that modified ACP structure would be given to HCMS doctors. "This proposal was approved by the CM. Eventually, the concurrence from the finance department was taken in August 2024, but unfortunately, even after more than a year, and despite several reminders, it has not been notified," it added.

According to the HCMS general secretary, Dr Anil Yadav, “There is a great sense of resentment among HCMS members towards this callous and insensitive attitude of the government regarding the genuine and already approved and agreed upon demands of the HCMS cadre.”

He added, “HCMS members will be left with no option other than to resort to the path of agitation if the genuine concerns are not resolved in a specified time frame.”

A memorandum will be submitted to all Civil Surgeons tomorrow, and a protest at the office of the Director General of Health Services will be held on November 13.