More than 3,000 government doctors in Haryana went on a two-day strike starting Monday, prompting the state administration to impose prohibitory orders to maintain public order and ensure essential health services remain functional. The protest is led by the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association, which is pushing for improved career progression, internal promotions, and the formation of an independent specialist cadre.
The doctors’ agitation centres on three major demands: creation of a separate cadre for specialists, filling senior medical officer posts through internal promotions, and the rollout of a dynamic Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme similar to that available in central government hospitals.
Backing HCMSA’s demands, the Democratic Medical Association (DMA India) has urged the government to take swift, decisive steps.
HCMSA representatives argue that direct recruitment to senior medical officer positions has significantly limited promotion opportunities. One member noted that unlike several other states where promotions are granted after fixed intervals such as 4, 9, 13 and 20 years Haryana doctors often retire with only a single promotion from medical officer to senior medical officer. “There is an urgent need to revise the rules,” the member said.
To prevent any disturbance around health facilities, Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, restricting gatherings of five or more people within a 200-metre radius of government health institutions, including civil hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, polyclinics, community health centres, and primary health centres. Violations will attract legal action. In Nuh, duty magistrates were deployed on orders of District Magistrate Akhil Pilani.
Despite the industrial action, outpatient services at Gurgaon’s Civil Hospital in Sector 10 functioned normally on the first day as the health department activated contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted patient care.
Officials expressed hope that the issue would be resolved through dialogue, preventing a long-drawn situation that could burden the state’s healthcare system.
Patients visiting the hospital reported no delays. A local resident who brought his seven-year-old son for fever and body aches said he received timely consultation and medicines, despite initial concerns about the strike. Another visitor seeking a gynaecology consultation for his pregnant wife also said they were attended to without long waiting times.
Doctors, however, warned that while operations may run smoothly for now, a prolonged strike could eventually overwhelm government health facilities.