Himachal Pradesh Doctors’ Strike: Patients Face Disruptions, Urgent Need for Dialogue Between Government and Doctors
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Doctors in Himachal Pradesh continued their strike for the second consecutive day, with around 2600 doctors participating in a two-and-a-half-hour strike. Following the call from the Himachal Medical Officers Association, doctors in primary health centers to district hospitals refrained from providing treatment to patients from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Emergency services, however, remained operational during this period, easing the plight of the affected patients.
In Hamirpur district, due to the strike, patients faced distress as they arrived at hospitals from distances of 15 to 20 kilometers, only to discover the ongoing strike. Civil hospitals, CHCs, and PHCs witnessed a halt in medical services from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM, leading patients to wander for treatment. Civil hospitals in Bhoranj, Touni Devi, Nadaun, and Barsar also witnessed a pen-down strike by doctors. Meanwhile, medical college doctors staged a demonstration with placards.
The impact of the strike in the Kullu district persisted on the second day, affecting the functioning of OPDs. Patients visiting regional hospitals faced difficulties due to the strike, and doctors warned of a mass leave if their demands were not met.
In Una, patients from remote areas faced hardships as they sought treatment at Una Hospital. Patients waited outside the OPD with prescriptions, but doctors started their OPD services at 12:00 PM. All doctors participated in the pen-down strike, and senior medical officer Dr. Vikas Chauhan stated that emergency services were being provided during the strike.
In the Shahpur Civil Hospital, patients in Chamba and Kangra constituencies have been facing difficulties for the past two days due to the strike. The Civil Hospital’s BMO, Vikram Katoch, has been advocating for their demands for a long time, but there has been no action from the government yet.
