Haryana doctors defy ESMA, extend strike; patients bear brunt as services falter

Government doctors across Haryana continued their indefinite strike for the third straight day on Wednesday, defying the state government’s decision to invoke the Haryana Essential Services Maintenance Act (HESMA), 1974. The strike, led by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), has severely disrupted essential diagnostic and surgical services, causing widespread inconvenience to patients.

The association had earlier announced a two-day strike on December 8 and 9 to press for two long-pending demands — implementation of the modified Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme and stopping direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs). Though the government conceded the latter, doctors extended the strike indefinitely after no progress was made on the ACP issue. They said both demands had been agreed to by the government last year but remain unimplemented.

“We were forced to call an indefinite strike as our genuine demands remain unfulfilled,” said Dr Sanjay Verma, district HCMSA president, Karnal.

Even as the state invoked HESMA, prohibiting strikes by doctors or health staff for six months, notices have been issued to probationary doctors directing them to return to duty and furnish explanations within two days. To prevent a collapse of health services, the government has deputed doctors from medical colleges, the National Health Mission, AYUSH, dental services, Ayushman Bharat-empanelled hospitals, community health officers and retired personnel.

Despite these measures, while OPDs are functioning with reduced capacity, diagnostic services such as ultrasounds, CT scan reporting and planned surgeries have been severely hit. Pregnant women and pre-surgery patients are among the worst affected, with many being forced to postpone crucial tests or turn to private centres. “They told us to get an ultrasound, but the facility is not available. Without it, the doctor cannot examine me,” said an expectant mother outside a district hospital.

Civil Surgeon Karnal Dr Poonam Chaudhary said, “services are running smoothly” and said ultrasound cases were being referred to Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC). In Karnal district, 104 doctors, excluding dental and NHM staff, stayed off duty.

In Panipat, over 100 of the 114 government doctors remained on strike, impacting surgeries, emergency services, post-mortems and OPDs. Civil Surgeon Dr Vijay Malik said OPDs and emergencies were being handled through alternative arrangements. In Sonepat, 134 doctors stayed off duty, though Civil Surgeon Dr Jyotsna claimed that “OPDs, emergency services, including post-mortem examinations, were going on smoothly.”

In Ambala, all doctors resumed duty on Wednesday after limited participation earlier, according to Civil Surgeon Dr Rakesh Sehal.

In Rewari, HCMS and probationary doctors remained on strike. Notices were issued to 11 probationary doctors. Civil Surgeon Dr Narender Dahiya said the ultrasound facility had been resumed.

In Rohtak, the strike intensified, with 62 of 147 HCMS doctors remaining off duty, compared with 59 on Tuesday and 23 on Monday. Twenty-one doctors continued their strike at the Civil Hospital alone.

Meanwhile, the HCMSA termed the strike “successful,” even as authorities insisted that services were functioning with the help of alternative arrangements.