Medical services across multiple government hospitals in Himachal Pradesh faced severe disruption on Saturday, December 27, 2025, as resident doctors began an indefinite strike. The protest was triggered by the termination of a senior resident doctor, Dr Raghav Narula, following an alleged physical altercation with a patient. The doctors are demanding his immediate reinstatement.
Widespread Impact on Healthcare Services
The strike has largely shut down outpatient departments (OPD) and routine services at major healthcare institutes across the hill state. Emergency services remain functional, but all other medical activities have been hit hard. The affected facilities include the Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla, Government Medical Colleges in Nahan (Sirmour), Ner Chowk, and Tanda (Mandi district), as well as health institutes in Dharamshala, Hamirpur, Una, and other districts.
This state-wide action followed a mass casual leave taken by resident doctors on Friday. The decision to escalate to an indefinite strike was made despite Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's assurance of conducting an enquiry into the termination matter.
Core Demand and Doctors' Grievance
The protesting doctors argue that the termination of Dr Narula's services within 48 hours of the incident was unjustified. Speaking to reporters, Dr Sohil Sharma, President of the IGMC Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), stated that the swift termination has sent a negative message, making the medical fraternity feel "humiliated and unsafe."
"A doctor is also a human. We accept that there was misconduct, for which the doctor was suspended in six hours. But the termination in 48 hours based on the disciplinary committee report is not justified. Our only demand is revocation of the termination orders," Sharma said. He emphasized the challenging conditions doctors work under, questioning how they can function if faced with threats.
The strike has garnered support from the Medical Officers’ Association and RDAs of all medical colleges in Himachal. At IGMC, doctors staged a protest at the badminton court of the Atal Sabha Ghar, raising slogans in support of their colleague.
Patient Hardships Amplified by Winter and Tourism
The strike has inflicted significant difficulties on patients and their attendants, particularly those traveling from remote parts of the state. Krishan Singh Thakur, who came from Ani (approximately 125 km from Shimla) for his father's treatment on Thursday, found no doctors available due to the strike. He highlighted that the peak winter cold and unavailability of accommodation, exacerbated by the heavy New Year tourist rush, are adding to their woes. Thakur urged both the government and doctors to resolve the issue swiftly in the interest of patients.
Another attendant, Dasvi Ram, told PTI that his wife's scheduled MRI was postponed due to the strike, leaving them in limbo. The RDA's press secretary, Dr Archit Sharma, confirmed that OPD services would remain shut on Sunday as well.
Hospital administration officials acknowledged the strain. Dr Praveen Bhatia, Deputy Medical Superintendent at IGMC, stated that while emergency services are functioning and consultants are attending to indoor patients, there were issues with planned surgeries.
Government Response and Ongoing Investigations
In response to the crisis, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure uninterrupted health services. These measures include assigning OPD duties to senior consultants, ensuring 24/7 availability of residents on emergency duty, and prioritizing indoor patients.
The state government had terminated Dr Narula's services on Wednesday after an internal probe found him guilty of "misconduct," "misbehaviour," and "acts unbecoming of a public servant." Interestingly, the probe also held the patient involved, Arjun Singh (34), responsible for the incident that occurred on December 22 in the Pulmonary Male Ward.
On Saturday, a police team recorded statements from patients and attendants in the relevant ward. SP Sanjeev Gandhi informed that they are also securing digital evidence of the alleged incident and investigating a complaint filed by Dr Narula.
The political opposition has also weighed in. Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, expressed grave concern over the twin strikes by resident doctors and ambulance workers, warning that the state government would be solely responsible for any loss of life. He criticized the government's "short-sightedness and one-sided action."
Earlier, on Friday, a delegation of doctors had met CM Sukhu, who assured action against the mob that allegedly threatened the doctor inside the hospital. He also promised to introduce new guidelines to ensure the security of medical professionals within hospital premises.
