Patients waiting in a queue at the Civil Hospital in Gurugram as the Haryana government doctors intensified their strike. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Despite the Haryana government invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act to prohibit the strike by the medical staff for six months, the government doctors on Wednesday (December 10, 2025) extended their ongoing two-day strike for an indefinite period shutting down all OPD, emergency and post-mortem services across the State. Around 3,000 doctors are taking part in the protests.
More promotions
Holding the strike under the aegis of Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), the striking doctors demand the scrapping of the direct appointment of Senior Medical Officer (SMO) to provide them more promotion opportunities and four Assured Career Progression (ACP) increments at par with the doctors in the Central government service and in States like Bihar in the fourth, ninth, 13th, and 20th year of service. They are currently paid three ACP increments in the fifth, 10th, and 15th year of service.
HCMSA president Rajesh Khyalia, SMO, Panchkula, who sat on fast-undo-death strike along with two more doctors on Wednesday, told The Hindu over phone that both demands were agreed upon by the Chief Minister in July last year after a similar protest, but were yet to be implemented.
In a letter to the Chief Minister on November 16, seeking his “urgent intervention” to resolve the HCMS cadre issue, the association pointed out that the government had on July 25 last year agreed that no “no further Direct SMO recruitment will be done and the service rules will be amended accordingly”, but the minutes of the meeting of health authorities on November 4 this year had a mention about initiating the process for the direct recruitment of SMO. Also, the proposal for grant of modified ACP was approved by the CM in July last, and the finance department had given its concurrence a month later, but the approval was yet to be notified after a year despite several reminders, said the letter.
Haryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao said the government was fully prepared for discussion and dialogue to resolve the pending and legitimate demands of the HCMSA. She appealed to all doctors of the association to join their duties as soon as possible and immediately call off the strike in the public interest. All the issues raised by the association are under the government’s consideration, said Ms. Rao.
She said the government on Wednesday arranged for a total of 2,531 replacement doctors, including 74 doctors from the aforementioned association who rejoined their duties. Approximately 440 doctors from Directorate of Medical Education and Research, 480 from the AYUSH department, 70 from Employees State Insurance Corporation, 53 from Ayushman Bharat panel hospitals, and 595 from the National Health Mission are providing healthcare services at various government health institutions across the state. In addition, a notice has been issued regarding the implementation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ensure services are not disrupted.
Shee stated that all essential and core services of the Health Department continued to operate regularly in all districts of the state.
Former Minister and national patron of the Indian National Lok Dal Sampat Singh has called on the Haryana government to withdraw its punitive approach toward striking doctors and instead address the systemic failures that have led to a breakdown in essential medical services across the state.
Regarding the ongoing doctors’ strike, now in its third day, Prof. Singh said the government had failed to issue orders implementing commitments it previously announced. Doctors are demanding promotions based on seniority, timely ACP benefits, and sanctioned posts for specialists. “Instead of addressing legitimate demands, the government has adopted a punitive stance, which is highly condemnable,” he stated.
Published – December 11, 2025 09:17 am IST
