Outpatient services have been restored across major government hospitals in Himachal Pradesh after resident doctors called off their indefinite strike. The decision came on Monday, December 29, 2025, following an assurance from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu that a new committee would be constituted to re-examine the controversial incident at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) that led to the termination of senior resident Dr Raghav Narula.
CM's Directive and Warning to Health Department
Presiding over a meeting of the Health Department in Shimla, Chief Minister Sukhu issued a dual directive. He ordered the formation of a fresh panel to "re-look" into the patient-doctor altercation at IGMC. While promising that the government would ensure adequate security for medical staff, he issued a stern warning that "inappropriate behaviour with patients will not be tolerated."
The CM announced several policy measures aimed at preventing such incidents in the future. He instructed the department to introduce mandatory human behaviour and man management courses for doctors to uphold professional ethics. Furthermore, the state government is contemplating introducing a grading system in the Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of doctors based on their behaviour with patients.
End of Strike and Government's Assurance
The Chief Minister's intervention led to the immediate resumption of OPD services at IGMC, Kamla Nehru Hospital, and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Regional Hospital. The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of IGMC called off its indefinite strike, which had entered its second day on Sunday and severely disrupted health services statewide.
Dr Sohel Sharma, President of the IGMC RDA, stated that the future course of action would be decided in a meeting scheduled for January 3. The RDA, in a statement, said the strike was called off "in the larger public interest" after the government assured them that the termination of Dr Narula could also be reconsidered.
Background and Political Reactions
The controversy erupted earlier in December 2025 after a video allegedly showing a senior resident doctor assaulting a pulmonary patient, Arjun Singh, went viral on social media. Based on a report from hospital authorities, Dr Raghav Narula's services were terminated, triggering widespread protests from the medical community.
Chief Minister Sukhu accused the opposition BJP of "double standards" and politicising the issue. He pointed out the contradictory demands from BJP MLAs, with Chopal MLA Balbir Verma seeking strict action against the doctor and Paonta Sahib MLA Sukhram Chaudhary urging for Dr Narula's reinstatement.
Sukhu clarified that the termination was not directly ordered by the government but was based on the hospital's report. "The government does not wish to ruin the career of any doctor and is committed to ensuring justice to both doctors and patients," he told mediapersons.
In a bid to address systemic issues, the CM also announced that the government is actively filling vacant posts of doctors and paramedical staff and is considering offering incentives to attract highly qualified specialists to the public medical sector.
