Chandigarh: Medical services across Haryana’s government hospitals remained severely disrupted on Monday as striking doctors escalated their protest by launching an indefinite fast unto death. The ongoing agitation, led by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), has caused major delays in diagnostics, surgeries, and routine patient care, leaving thousands struggling to access essential treatment.
The strike, which has now entered a critical phase, has particularly impacted emergency and specialist services. Hospital administrators across multiple districts reported that outpatient departments were functioning with minimal staff, while many scheduled procedures had to be postponed due to the absence of medical personnel.
At the centre of the agitation, HCMSA President Dr. Rajesh Khayalia, along with Dr. Labh Singh and Dr. Virendra, began an indefinite hunger strike outside the office of the Director General of Health Services in Sector 6, Panchkula. Speaking to reporters, Dr. Khayalia said that despite the scale of the disruption, no representative from the state government had reached out for negotiations.
The doctors have been demanding long-pending reforms related to staffing, pay structure, work conditions, and administrative accountability. The absence of a dialogue has deepened the standoff, raising concerns about the health system’s ability to cope if the protest continues.
Patient rights groups and civil society organisations have urged the government to open talks immediately to prevent further deterioration of services, warning that prolonged interruption in healthcare access could have serious consequences, especially for the poor and chronically ill.
As the hunger strike enters its next phase, both sides face increasing pressure to find a resolution and restore normalcy to Haryana’s public health infrastructure.
