The state government has assured that an inquiry will be conducted and that steps will be taken to ensure the safety of doctors. However, the protesting doctors have rejected these assurances for now and are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the termination order, calling the action unfair, harsh, and deeply demoralising for the medical community.
Medical services across several hospitals in Himachal Pradesh were disrupted on Saturday after resident doctors began an indefinite strike to protest the dismissal of a doctor who was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a patient. The doctors argued that terminating the doctor’s services within just 48 hours was excessive and unjustified, and that the decision had created widespread anger and insecurity among medical professionals.
As a result of the strike, patients and their attendants, particularly those travelling from remote areas, faced serious difficulties due to the absence of doctors. Krishan Singh Thakur, who had travelled nearly 125 kilometres from Ani to Shimla for his father’s treatment, expressed his distress. He said that since the doctors were on strike, no treatment was being provided, causing inconvenience and uncertainty for patients and their families.
Adding to their hardship, severe winter conditions and a shortage of accommodation caused by the New Year tourist rush made the situation even more difficult. Thakur urged both the government and the striking doctors to resolve the matter quickly, keeping patients’ welfare in mind.
Another patient attendant, Dasvi Ram, said his wife had been admitted to the hospital and was scheduled for an MRI scan. However, due to the strike, the test could not be conducted. Speaking to PTI Videos, he said they were helplessly waiting for doctors to resume duty so that treatment could continue.
Reports of disruption in medical services emerged from several districts including Shimla, Dharamshala, Nahan, Hamirpur, Una, and other parts of the state. On Friday, resident doctors from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and various government hospitals had gone on mass casual leave. From Saturday onward, they escalated their protest into an indefinite strike.
The Resident Doctors’ Association announced that during the strike, routine medical services, outpatient departments (OPDs), and elective surgeries would remain suspended, while only emergency services would continue to function. Dr Praveen Bhatia, Deputy Medical Superintendent of IGMC, confirmed that emergency care was being provided and that senior doctors, including assistant professors, associate professors, and professors, were attending to admitted patients. However, he acknowledged that planned surgeries and routine procedures were being affected.
In response to the crisis, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research issued Standard Operating Procedures to ensure continuity of essential healthcare services. These measures included assigning OPD responsibilities to senior consultants, ensuring round-the-clock availability of doctors for emergency duties, and prioritising treatment for indoor patients.
Speaking to the media, Sohail Sharma, President of the Resident Doctors’ Association at IGMC, said that although the Chief Minister had promised an inquiry into the incident, the termination of the doctor had sent a deeply negative message to the medical fraternity. He said doctors were feeling unsafe, humiliated, and undervalued.
He added that becoming a doctor requires years of study, training, and dedication, and that doctors are also human beings who can face stressful situations. While the association acknowledged that misconduct had occurred and that the doctor was suspended within six hours, they felt that terminating him within 48 hours based on a disciplinary report was excessive and unjust. The association’s sole demand, he said, was the immediate revocation of the termination order.
Raising concerns about workplace safety, Sharma questioned how doctors could work effectively if they were threatened with dismissal for refusing unreasonable demands. He pointed out that doctors often deal with emotionally charged patients and attendants, and such incidents should be handled with fairness and due process.
The controversy began after the Himachal Pradesh government terminated the services of Dr Raghav Narula on Wednesday. He was accused of engaging in a physical altercation with a patient at IGMC. A video of the incident went viral, showing Dr Narula allegedly punching the patient, Arjun Singh, inside the pulmonary ward, while the patient appeared to attempt to kick the doctor.
According to Singh, he had gone to the hospital for a bronchoscopy and later complained of breathing difficulties. He claimed the altercation started when he objected to the doctor addressing him informally using the word “tu” instead of the more respectful “tum,” which allegedly provoked the doctor.
Dr Narula, however, denied sole responsibility and stated that the patient had first abused him and his family, leading to the confrontation. An inquiry committee later concluded that both parties were at fault and noted instances of misconduct, misbehaviour, and conduct unbecoming of a public servant on the doctor’s part.
Following the incident, several medical bodies, including the Himachal Medical Officers’ Association, Shimla Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers, Shimla Private Practitioners’ Association, and the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations, came out in support of Dr Narula. They demanded his reinstatement, a fair and transparent inquiry, and strict action against those who created chaos inside the hospital premises.
Representatives of the Resident Doctors’ Association also met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday. The chief minister assured them that action would be taken against those who threatened hospital staff and disrupted medical services. He also promised to introduce new guidelines and safety measures to protect doctors within hospital premises.
Despite these assurances, the doctors decided to continue their strike, maintaining that their primary demand remains the revocation of the termination order, which they believe has set a dangerous precedent and undermined the dignity and security of the medical profession.
