Government hospitals in Himachal Pradesh witnessed a major disruption in healthcare services on Saturday, as doctors launched an indefinite strike. The protest was called to demand the immediate reinstatement of a colleague who was terminated following an alleged assault on a patient.
Why Are Doctors Protesting?
The strike was initiated by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) after Dr Raghav Nirula was sacked from his position at Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC). Dr Nirula was dismissed for allegedly assaulting a patient on December 22. A video of the incident, which shows the doctor thrashing the patient who is also seen kicking him from his bed, had circulated widely.
However, the RDA has called the termination unjust. Dr Sohail Sharma, president of the RDA, labelled the sacking as a "humiliation of the medical fraternity." He stated that doctors would not resume work until the government reversed its decision. "We accept that there was misconduct, for which the doctor was suspended within six hours. However, terminating him within 48 hours based on the disciplinary committee's report is not justified," Dr Sharma argued, claiming Dr Nirula's side of the story was not considered.
Impact on Patients and Hospital Services
The strike severely impacted non-emergency medical services across the state. Patients and their attendants at major facilities like IGMC and the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS) in Chamiyana, Shimla, faced significant hardship. Several scheduled surgeries for Saturday had to be postponed indefinitely due to the doctors' absence.
One affected patient, 70-year-old Jagat Ram from Gadakufar in Theog tehsil, shared his ordeal. His prostate surgery at AIMSS-Chamiyana was called off at the last moment. "Doctors advised me not to eat anything after 11 pm yesterday. But this morning, I was told the surgery could not be performed until the strike ends," he said.
Government Response and Path Forward
Health and Family Welfare Minister Col Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) assured that the issue would be resolved soon. He mentioned that he would call the doctors for discussions once the Chief Minister returned from Delhi. Reflecting on the incident, the minister said, "I always say doctors should not let anger take over. If they had quietly met the chief minister and apologised, saying it happened in a moment of passion, perhaps the entire matter could have been resolved."
The minister confirmed that emergency services were continuing as usual and steps were being taken to minimise patient inconvenience. The directorate of medical education and research has also issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure emergency healthcare remains uninterrupted during the strike.
The standoff continues, with the medical fraternity standing firm on its demand and the state government managing the fallout on essential services.
