Government doctors across Haryana observed a two-hour pen-down strike on Thursday, temporarily suspending outpatient department (OPD) services to intensify their long-standing demands related to career progression and recruitment policies. The agitation, held between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., was called by the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association, the collective body representing government doctors in the state.

While emergency services, labour rooms and operation theatres remained functional, the brief shutdown of OPD services caused significant disruption at several district hospitals and primary health centres, impacting thousands of patients who rely on government facilities for routine consultations.

A Protest Against Stagnation and Unfulfilled Assurances

According to the HCMS Association, the primary contention revolves around two issues: the state government’s renewed move to allow direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), and the delay in implementing the assured career progression scheme that has already been approved at the highest political level.

Dr. Rajesh Khyalia, president of the HCMS Association, said that government doctors have repeatedly raised objections to direct appointments at the SMO level, arguing that such a policy undermines seniority, disrupts service morale, and blocks the natural promotion pipeline.

“For years, we have been insisting that there should be no direct recruitment of SMOs. Former Health Minister Anil Vij had accepted this, and only last year, the government again assured us that such recruitment would not take place. Yet now, the same proposal is being pushed again,” Dr. Khyalia said.

He emphasised that bypassing eligible medical officers who have put in decades of service jeopardises their professional growth. “This kind of policy creates stagnation. Hundreds of doctors who have completed over 20 years in government service are waiting for their genuine opportunity to be promoted. Direct recruitment shuts that door.”

Career Progression Scheme Stuck in Bureaucratic Limbo

Alongside recruitment concerns, the doctors are also demanding immediate implementation of the assured career progression (ACP) scheme. This scheme, which has already received approval from the chief minister, aims to provide systematic, time-bound promotional avenues for government doctors who often remain stuck at the same level for decades.

However, the association says the scheme has been languishing due to bureaucratic hurdles, leaving government doctors demoralised and frustrated.

“The chief minister has approved it, but it has neither been notified nor enforced. The file appears to be stuck at the bureaucratic level. Without timely career progression, doctors are pushed into a situation where they often consider voluntary retirement because they see no future growth,” Dr. Khyalia said.

He further noted that across India, no state allows direct entry into the SMO rank, reinforcing the association’s argument that Haryana’s move is not only unusual but also potentially harmful for the state’s healthcare workforce morale.

Statewide Participation Reflects Growing Discontent

Doctors across numerous government health facilities—district hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres—participated in the strike. While the protest was symbolic in terms of duration, the widespread participation reflected a collective fatigue with delayed policy decisions and unaddressed grievances.

HCMS Association leaders stressed that this was only the beginning of what could become a larger agitation if the government does not respond constructively. The union is expected to meet soon to determine its next steps, depending on how the government engages with the demands.

Impact on Public Health Services

While the strike lasted only two hours, it did create noticeable disruptions in OPD functions at various institutions. Patients arriving early in the morning at many state hospitals found OPD counters shut and were either asked to return later or directed to emergency wings for urgent care.

For patients who depend on subsidised healthcare, even temporary suspension of OPD services can cause significant hardship. Many had travelled from rural areas, arriving before dawn to secure a consultation number, only to find services unavailable until late morning.

The doctors’ union acknowledged patient inconvenience but maintained that the protest was necessary to safeguard the long-term health of the state’s medical system. “If the government fails to secure fair promotional avenues for its medical workforce, the state risks losing experienced doctors at an alarming rate,” a senior HCMS member said. “This will ultimately hurt patients far more.”

Government Attempts to Maintain Services During Strike

In response to the planned strike, the Haryana Health Department issued a statement clarifying that it had made “elaborate arrangements” to ensure continuity of patient care during the pen-down protest. The department instructed civil surgeons and principal medical officers to keep OPDs and emergency services operational to avoid significant inconvenience.

The state directed hospitals to utilise the services of consultants, contract medical officers and other available staff. Furthermore, approximately 400 doctors employed under the national healthcare initiative were deployed to support OPD operations during the two-hour pause.

The government’s statement stressed its commitment to maintaining uninterrupted patient care and expressed confidence that its contingency measures prevented any major collapse in service delivery.

Long-Term Frictions and the Road Ahead

The confrontation between government doctors and the state administration highlights structural issues within Haryana’s healthcare system. Chronic stagnation, limited promotional scope, administrative delays, and policy reversals have contributed to dissatisfaction among medical officers. Over time, this has led to repeated strikes, protests, and negotiations.

While Thursday’s protest was short and symbolic, it signals deeper unrest among the medical community. The HCMS Association has made clear that it expects swift action on both fronts—the halting of direct SMO recruitment and the notification of the career progression scheme.

If the government fails to respond, a more intense phase of agitation could follow, potentially disrupting healthcare services on a larger scale.

Both sides now face a critical moment. For the government, the challenge lies in addressing long-standing issues without compromising administrative priorities. For doctors, the emphasis remains on ensuring that their work environment offers growth, recognition, and fairness.

As the state navigates this tension, patients remain the silent stakeholders whose care is ultimately shaped by the stability, morale, and retention of the medical workforce.