The indefinite strike by resident doctors across Himachal Pradesh was called off on Sunday evening, just hours after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made a public appeal for them to rejoin duties. The decision came from the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College following the CM's assurance of a detailed inquiry into the termination of a fellow doctor.
Strike Withdrawn After Government Assurance
In an official statement, RDA president Dr Sohil Sharma announced the withdrawal of the strike. This action was taken after the Chief Minister's guarantee that a detailed inquiry would be conducted into the matter and the termination order of Dr Raghav Nirula would be revoked. The RDA clarified that it would remain fully engaged in the inquiry process until the termination orders are officially withdrawn.
The chain of events began when senior resident Dr Raghav Nirula was dismissed from government service on December 24. This disciplinary action followed an incident on December 22 where a video of Dr Nirula allegedly assaulting a patient at IGMC, Shimla, went viral. While the government termed the dismissal justified, the medical fraternity protested, calling the order unjust and demanding immediate reinstatement.
Chief Minister's Appeal and Disappointment
Earlier on Sunday, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, speaking to mediapersons upon his return to Shimla from Delhi, urged the doctors to end their protest. He stated that government decisions can be reviewed and invited senior doctors from IGMC for discussions on Monday to find a resolution. He expressed disappointment that the doctors chose to strike despite his earlier assurances.
"On December 26, I met a delegation of the doctors," Sukhu said. "I told them an inquiry into the incident would be conducted again. They should have trusted me but they went on strike." He emphasized his duty to protect doctors, stating they are part of his family, but lamented that a mistake was committed and doctors still proceeded with the strike.
The CM also highlighted his government's pro-doctor initiatives, including reducing duty hours for senior residents from 48 to 12 hours and increasing their stipend from Rs 65,000 to Rs 1 lakh. He termed the recent behaviour concerning despite these improvements.
Impact and Political Reaction
The doctors' protest had significantly impacted healthcare services statewide. It began with a mass leave on December 26, called by the RDA, which later escalated to an indefinite strike. Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi criticized the doctors' decision to strike, noting it had badly impacted medical services across Himachal Pradesh. He stated it was wrong to proceed with the strike despite the CM's assurance.
With the strike now called off, medical services in state hospitals are expected to normalize starting Monday. The focus shifts to the promised inquiry and the potential reinstatement of Dr Nirula, which remains the core demand of the resident doctors' body.
