This blog explains, in simple language, what the strike is about, why it is happening, what will be closed, how it impacts you, and what precautions you should take.
Healthcare disruptions affect people long before they reach the hospital gate. With the recent announcement of a two-day complete strike by government doctors across Haryana, worry and uncertainty are spreading among families, patients, and health workers alike. At a time like this, having reliable medical support outside hospitals becomes essential, and platforms like CallYourDoctor.in provide an important safety net when regular services collapse.
Why Are Haryana’s Government Doctors Going on Strike?
The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) has declared a statewide strike on 8 and 9 December 2025, after multiple rounds of negotiations with the state government failed to resolve their long-standing concerns.
Doctors say their frustration has reached a breaking point. Meetings with the government ended without concrete action, and their issues, pending for years, remain untouched. According to HCMSA leadership, discussions were “inconclusive,” leaving doctors feeling unheard and undervalued.
At the core of this protest lie two major demands that, doctors believe, directly affect their career growth, motivation, and retention in public service.
- The Demand to Stop Direct Recruitment of Senior Medical Officers
One of the central issues involves the recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs).
HCMSA strongly opposes the state’s policy of directly hiring SMOs from outside the existing medical officer cadre.
Why? Because:
• Doctors working for years in government hospitals feel their promotions are being blocked.
• Those already serving in difficult rural postings say they are losing out to fresh entrants who directly join at senior positions.
• The association argues that direct recruitment demoralises hardworking medical officers who wait for promotions through experience and merit.
Essentially, government doctors want the natural hierarchy respected, one where dedication, seniority, and service translate into career advancement.
- Delay in the “Assured Career Progression (ACP)” Structure
The second major complaint is the lack of formal notification of a revised ACP scheme.
According to HCMSA:
• The government approved the ACP structure earlier, but
• The official notification, needed actually to implement it, has still not been issued.
• Without ACP, doctors feel stuck with stagnant career growth and limited financial progression.
ACP frameworks exist in several other government departments, helping staff move up the ladder even when promotional posts are few. Haryana’s doctors argue that they deserve the same structure, especially given the high workload, long hours, rural postings, and limited staff positions.
The absence of ACP has become symbolic for many doctors, representing the system’s failure to reward skill and commitment.
What Exactly Will Be Closed on 8–9 December 2025?
The strike is not partial. It is not symbolic. It is a complete shutdown of medical services in all government hospitals across Haryana.
This includes:
• OPDs (Outpatient Departments)
• Emergency services
• Labour rooms and delivery services
• Surgeries, elective and emergency
• Post-mortem services
• All routine hospital work
Essentially, for two days, most services will pause. Hospitals may have skeleton staff or nominal arrangements, but full functioning is not expected.
HCMSA has also warned:
If their demands remain unmet after 9 December, they may intensify the strike and begin an indefinite shutdown from 10 December 2025.
What Does This Mean for Patients and the Public?
Strikes in the healthcare sector always have immediate ripple effects:
- OPD Disruption
Patients who planned routine visits, check-ups, follow-up consultations, and chronic disease management will have to reschedule.
This particularly affects:
• elderly patients,
• diabetics,
• hypertensives,
• pregnant women, and
• individuals dependent on regular follow-up.
- Emergency Care Will Be Limited
Even though hospitals may try to keep some emergency services running, the strike will heavily strain the system.
Ambulances may arrive, but treatment might be delayed or unavailable.
- Surgeries Will Be Put on Hold
Elective procedures scheduled for these dates may be postponed.
Emergency surgeries may face difficulty due to a shortage of manpower.
- Delivery Services May Be Affected
Pregnant women close to their due date should plan alternative arrangements.
Labour rooms may be non-functional or minimally staffed.
- Increased Load on Private Hospitals
Private hospitals may experience sudden overcrowding, resulting in longer waiting times and higher costs.
- Confusion Among Families
Many families may not be aware of the strike and could be caught off guard when they reach a hospital, only to find services shut.
Why Are Doctors Resorting to a Strike?
Doctors rarely choose strikes as their first response. For most medical professionals, striking is emotionally and ethically difficult.
But when systemic issues persist for years, and discussions repeatedly fail, protests become the only way to be heard.
HCMSA argues that:
• Career stagnation is driving many doctors out of government service.
• Haryana struggles to retain specialists because promotion pathways are unclear.
• Overworked doctors without clear career progression feel demotivated.
• Better policies will help strengthen the entire public healthcare system.
The association maintains that the strike is not against patients; it is against administrative neglect.
Recent Background: Why Tensions Escalated
On 27 November 2025, doctors already held a two-hour “pen-down” strike, keeping OPDs closed from 9 AM to 11 AM.
This was meant as a warning.
However, with no breakthrough in discussions afterwards, HCMSA decided to escalate to a complete shutdown.
Doctors say this is the culmination of years of unresolved grievances regarding:
• recruitment practices,
• promotions,
• ACP delays,
• unclear service rules, and
• administrative inefficiencies.
What Should You Do on 8–9 December 2025? Practical Tips
- Reschedule Non-Urgent Hospital Visits
If your OPD appointment or routine check-up falls on these dates, postpone it in advance.
- For Pregnant Women
Keep in contact with your private obstetrician or nearby hospital.
If your due date is close, plan.
- For Chronic Disease Patients
Keep your medication stocked: diabetes, BP, thyroid, asthma, etc.
Avoid last-minute pharmacy visits.
- For Emergencies
Private hospitals may be the only option.
Keep the numbers of nearby facilities handy.
- Inform Family Members
Share this information with elderly relatives, neighbours, and anyone who depends on government hospitals.
- Avoid Panic
Strikes are temporary.
Take precautions and stay informed.
What Happens After 9 December?
Everything now hinges on whether the government responds positively.
Two possibilities exist:
- Strike Ends After 9 December
If negotiations succeed, hospitals will reopen, and routine services will resume normally.
- Strike Escalates to Indefinite Shutdown
If talks fail, HCMSA may extend the strike indefinitely starting 10 December.
This would significantly impact public healthcare across Haryana.
The Larger Question: What Does This Reveal About India’s Public Health System?
The situation in Haryana reflects a nationwide pattern:
• Overburdened doctors,
• Delayed promotions,
• Shortage of specialists,
• High patient loads,
• Slow policy implementation,
• Bureaucratic delays,
• Urban-rural imbalance in postings.
For a strong public health system, the backbone, doctors, must feel valued and supported.
Without transparent service rules, timely promotions, and structured career paths, retaining skilled doctors becomes difficult.
Public health is not only about hospitals and medicines.
It is also about the morale of the people delivering care.
Final Thoughts
Healthcare strikes remind us how deeply the public depends on government medical services.
The next few days will be crucial for both doctors and the government.
Whether the issues are resolved or escalated, one thing remains clear: people must not be left helpless during system-level breakdowns.
During such times, platforms offering remote medical guidance, even in simple situations like fever, cough, infections, or medication queries, can make a meaningful difference.
That’s why services like CallYourDoctor.in play a useful, supportive role when traditional healthcare temporarily shuts down.
The hope remains that dialogue prevails, doctors feel heard, and Haryana’s health system emerges stronger than before.