Karnal, March 7: Outpatient services at government hospitals across Haryana came to a standstill on Saturday as the state’s medical fraternity protested the alleged mistreatment of a colleague by police. The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) decided to widen its strike after local authorities in Karnal failed to register a criminal case against a station house officer accused of assaulting a doctor.
The incident occurred during the Holi holiday at the Gharounda CHC when Dr. Prashant Chauhan sought protection from aggressive patients. According to the medical association, the responding SHO, Deepak Kumar, allegedly attacked the doctor and detained him at the police station. This led to an immediate outcry, with doctors initially pausing work in Karnal before extending the boycott to the entire state.
District Civil Hospital spokesperson Dr. Deepak Goyal declared that the association has maintained a firm stance on legal accountability. He asserted that the current administrative suspension of the SHO is insufficient and maintained that the doctors’ primary demand is the arrest of the accused under the state’s medical protection laws. Despite the suspension of general OPDs, officials affirmed that emergency services in Karnal have been restored as a humanitarian gesture.
The HCMSA stated that the safety of medical professionals remains a non-negotiable priority. Association leaders affirmed that the strike reflects a broader frustration with the lack of security provided to on-duty staff. As the standoff continues, the state health department has been urged to intervene and ensure the implementation of the Haryana Protection of Medical Service Persons Act to resolve the crisis.
