Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday claimed that the strike conducted by government doctors has failed, with only 26.86 percent of doctors participating, adding that government healthcare institutions ran normally and there was no disruption in healthcare services.

Vij stated that the doctors' strike is unjustified since their main demand for approval of the specialist cadre has been granted, with the Chief Minister also giving his consent. Additionally, he informed that the Additional Chief Secretary has approved the demand related to the PG Policy, and the process is ongoing. Similarly, the process for the direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and ACP is underway. Most of the demands of the doctors have been acknowledged, he said, adding that Doctors were invited for discussions on Wednesday, but their representative body did not attend.

The Health Minister said that as COVID cases are increasing in the country, doctors should refrain from going on strike and directed the Director-General of Health Services to ensure no disruption occurs in healthcare services and there is no compromise with people's lives.

DG Health Services, R.S. Punia, held a video conference late afternoon with all the state civil surgeons, providing necessary instructions to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services. During the video conference, Punia instructed all civil surgeons that if there is any requirement for manpower from outside or from other districts, it should be brought to headquarters' attention to ensure the smooth functioning of healthcare services in those districts.

Meanwhile, appealing to the doctors on strike, Vij urged them to end the strike and return to work to avoid any difficulties in healthcare services for the people.

An official statement said that in the state, there are a total of 3,466 posts for Medical Officers and Senior Medical Officers, out of which only 931 doctors went on strike. Ambala has 0 doctors on strike, Bhiwani 44, Charkhi Dadri 25, Fatehabad 17, Faridabad 20, Gurugram 90, Hisar 77, Jind 37, Jhajjar 70, Kaithal 29, Kurukshetra 8, Karnal 59, Mahendragarh 56, Mewat 23, Palwal 76, Panchkula 77, Panipat 22, Rewari 85, Rohtak 44, Sonipat 37, Sirsa 10, and Yamunanagar 25 doctors on strike, the statement added.