How Haryana govt managed healthcare services during the doctors’ strike

The two-day strike called by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) to press their long-pending service-related demands witnessed a mixed response across the state. OPDs, emergency services and C-section deliveries being done with the help of alternative arrangements, while elective surgeries, CT scan, ultrasound services were affected. Here is what you know about the issues and impact of strike on health services.

What was the strike about?

On the call of the HCMSA, the government doctors of the state went on the two-day strike from Monday in protest against the non-fulfillment of their demands, including stoppage of direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and issuing a notification for the already-approved modified assured career progression (ACP) structure even after it was approved by the Chief Minister last year. Despite previous meetings with top officials of the state on December 3 and 5, the HCMSA went ahead with the strike after modified ACP implementation was not approved.

How did the government and health authorities prepare for the strike?

The authorities claimed that they had made alternative arrangements to ensure smooth healthcare services by deploying additional doctors from medical colleges, NHM, retired doctors, community health officers (CHOs), doctors from Ayush Department, extending duty hours and others. Dental surgeons have also been deployed in OPDs to look after the patients.

Did the two-day strike disrupt healthcare services across Haryana?

The HCMSA gave a call of complete shutdown of all kinds of services, including OPD, IPD, emergency, postmortem, operations, deliveries, VIP duties and others by taking mass leave on December 8 and 9. They even threatened to go on indefinite periodof leave if their demands were not met. Alternative arrangements made by the health authorities provided some relief in OPDs, but long queues could be seen outside the OPDs. Some patients wanted to get treatment from the same doctor whom he was following. District hospitals, PHCs and CHCs across the state remained either fully or partially functional, but except emergency and OPD, other services including operations, ultrasound, reporting of CT scan and other services were adversely affected. No other doctor can conduct ultrasound due to legal process as the machine has to be registered on the name of the doctor.

What legal steps did the district administration take to prevent disruptions near the hospitals?

In server districts, the district magistrate involved section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, prohibiting protests, sit-ins, shouting of slogans, setting of tent, marches, any obstruction within 200 metres of government hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, trauma centres, or emergency units. Violators will face action under Section 223 and other legal provisions.

Why are notices being issued to newly recruited doctors?

In many districts, the Civil Surgeons have issued notices to newly recruited doctors for participating in the ongoing strike, even though their probation period is yet to be completed. The Civil Surgeon in their notices had asked the new doctors as to why had they joined the strike at this stage, as it violated service rules and had sought written explanations from the doctors regarding their absence from duty.

What is the stand of the state government?

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has already said that several demands of the doctors have already been fulfilled earlier. Dialogues between ministers, senior officials and doctors are taking place. The government will ensure that all concerns are heard.