In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Haryana Government on Friday appealed to all the doctors of the Health Department not to participate in the statewide strike called by Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association from December 13. Haryana Director General Health Services, Dr Veena Singh said that the HCMS Association has called for a statewide strike with effect from December 13, in pursuit of their demands namely creation of a specialist cadre, amendment in post-graduation policy and stoppage of direct recruitment of SMO. Dr Veena appealed to the office bearers of the HCMS association to withdraw their notice of strike in the interest of the public at large.
The Health Department has already considered the demands of the HCMS Association as regards the creation of a specialist cadre and amendment in PG Policy is concerned. Therefore, the present notice given by the HCMS association is completely unjustified and inhumane especially in light of the present pandemic of COVID-19 and the threat of the third Wave of COVID due to the Omicron variant, she added.
It was informed that the State Government has taken care of the demands of the medical fraternity. Recently, Government has recognized the contribution of frontline warriors in curtailing the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state and an amount of Rs 50 lakh has been released to the next of kin of the deceased.
Notably, over 1,000 doctors from across the state, under the banner of the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association, had held a meeting on Sunday in Karnal and later submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister about their demands.
The memorandum stated, “Doctors are being forced to go on a path of agitation. On November 9, doctors wore black badges and on November 12 there was a token pen down for two hours throughout the state. It is unanimously decided that our issues should be resolved within one week, otherwise doctors will be forced to close OPD services on December 13 and to stop all services, including emergency and post mortem, from December 14 till our demands are met.”