Govt docs to shut OPD services for 2 hours tomorrow

Government doctors across Haryana will observe a pen-down strike on November 27, keeping OPD services shut from 9 am to 11 am in support of their demands. The decision was taken by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) during an online meeting of its state executive on Monday evening.

Earlier, doctors had planned to shut the OPDs on Tuesday, but the strike was postponed in view of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Kurukshetra.

The association is demanding an immediate halt to the direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and the issuance of the modified Assured Career Progression (ACP) structure, which has been approved by the CM, but is pending with the Finance Department.

“All OPD services, except emergency, labour room and operations, will remain suspended,” said Dr Rajesh Khyalia, state president of the HCMSA. Opposing the government's plan for the direct recruitment of SMOs, he said no such recruitment had taken place since 2012.

“On June 3, 2021, the then Health Minister Anil Vij had ordered that no direct recruitment of SMOs would be undertaken, and that existing doctors would be given opportunities for promotion. Now, the government is planning to recruit SMOs directly,” he said.

The association also raised concerns over the delay in notifying the modified ACP structure, which would enhance their pay scale from the existing Rs 8,700 to Rs 9,500, bringing them on a par with medical college doctors.

“At present, even a Civil Surgeon draws less salary than a medical college doctor. The CM has approved the modified structure, but the Finance Department has not issued the notification yet,” said Dr Deepak Goyal, state treasurer of the association.

He said they had met the Director General of Health Services, but no concrete action had been taken. “We have sought time from the CM and the Health Minister to raise our issues,” he added.