The indefinite strike by government doctors in Himachal Pradesh entered its second day on Sunday. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu appealed to the protesting doctors to end the protest, assuring them that their concerns would be discussed with senior officials of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla.
Speaking to mediapersons in Shimla after returning from the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Delhi, the Chief Minister urged doctors to resume work. He said the government was committed to protecting both doctors and patients.
“After meeting me, I told them that the matter would be re-inquired into and that there was no need to go on an indefinite strike. When I assured them that the matter would be re-inquired into, they should have trusted me,” Sukhu said.
Health services, except emergency care, were badly hit in many hospitals across the state after doctors went on an indefinite strike from Saturday. The protest was triggered by the termination of a resident doctor at IGMC after a physical altercation with a patient.
Appealing to doctors to prioritise patient care, Sukhu said ego should not come in the way of public service.
"The doctors need to leave behind their ego. I request them to join duties from Monday. I will discuss the matter with senior officers of IGMC and deliberate on it. For us, doctors are part of our family, as are the patients. Their protection is our duty," he said.
Referring to the incident that led to the termination, Sukhu said the doctor’s conduct was unacceptable.
“The doctor could have withdrawn from treating the patient and taken the issue to his seniors. Instead, he thrashed the patient. Such aggression is unacceptable. Patients see doctors like a god, and this kind of behaviour is not appropriate,” he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted steps taken by the government to reduce stress among resident doctors. “We have reduced duty hours for resident doctors from 48 hours to 12 hours and increased their stipend from Rs 65,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Even after this, if a doctor resorts to such actions, it is a serious concern,” Sukhu said.
The protest followed the termination of Dr Raghav Narula, a senior resident in the Pulmonary Medicine Department at IGMC, after a video of him involved in a physical altercation with a patient went viral. The incident took place on December 22 and involved 36-year-old Arjun Pawar, a resident of Chopal.
The state government has said the action was taken to ensure patient safety and maintain discipline in the healthcare system. Talks are expected to continue to resolve the deadlock.
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