HCMS docs announce mass leave on Dec 8, 9

Government doctors under the banner of Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association have announced a two-day mass leave on December 8 and 9, warning of a complete shutdown of all medical services if the state government fails to fulfil the promises made to them last year. The decision was taken during an online state-level meeting of the HCMS Association held on Sunday.

All medical services, including OPD, emergency care, post-mortem examination, labour rooms and operation theatres, will remain shut across government hospitals in the state on these two days. Earlier on November 27, doctors observed a two-hour pen-down strike, which caused inconvenience to thousands of patients.

“We have unanimously decided to go on mass leave on December 8 and 9 and all services will remain completely shut,” said Dr Rajesh Khyalia, state president, HCMS Association. He said the government’s continued inaction has left doctors with “no option but to go for complete shutdown.”

Khyalia said that if their demands remain unaddressed even after the two-day protest, the association would launch an indefinite statewide shutdown from December 10. “It will be the sole responsibility of the government for any inconvenience caused to the public,” he said.

HCMS members expressed resentment over what they termed the “insensitive and callous” attitude of the government toward long-pending demands that had already been accepted in principle.

The withdrawal of direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and filling these posts through promotion of existing Medical Officers by amending service rules is one of the key demands, he said.

“The government had assured the association that it would stop direct recruitment of SMOs and fill all SMO posts through promotions after amending service rules. However, out of 644 sanctioned SMO posts, 200 remain vacant, including 160 posts blocked due to the non-amendment of rules, said Khyalia.

The association has also suggested incentivising specialists through specialist incentive, Ayushman incentive, or optional non-practicing allowance (NPA) instead of appointing them directly to SMO posts, he added.

He further maintained that issuance of the modified assured career progression (ACP) notification, approved by the Chief Minister and cleared by the Finance Department, is their second key demand. The revision would upgrade their pay scale from Rs 8,700 to Rs 9,500 for doctors having service experience of 15 years and pay scale from Rs 7,600 to Rs 8,000 for doctors having 10 years of service, he added.

Khyalia said members felt “betrayed” as the promises made last year remain unfulfilled.

Last year, the association had resorted to agitation to push their demands, which were approved, but still not fulfilled, he added.