Resident doctors across Himachal Pradesh began an indefinite strike on Saturday, demanding the revocation of a senior doctor’s termination after a viral video controversy in Shimla.
Resident doctors sit on strike as part of an indefinite protest demanding revocation of a colleague’s termination. (ANI Video Grab)
Resident doctors across Himachal Pradesh began an indefinite strike on Saturday, demanding the revocation of the termination of a senior resident doctor whose alleged assault on a patient was captured in a viral video.
The strike comes a day after resident doctors went on mass leave on Friday. Despite discussions with the Chief Minister and assurances of an inquiry, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) decided to escalate the protest after the termination order was not withdrawn.
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According to doctors’ bodies, resident doctors and medical associations from almost all government hospitals in the state have joined the strike. Outpatient department (OPD) services remained shut at most hospitals, while facilities that remained open were operating with a severely limited number of doctors.
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The protest centres on the termination of Dr Raghav Narula, a senior resident doctor, following the circulation of a video allegedly showing him assaulting a patient in Shimla. The state government acted swiftly after the video went viral, first suspending and later terminating the doctor.
In the state capital, resident doctors from IGMC Shimla were joined by RDA representatives from other districts, staging a joint protest.
Speaking to the media, Sohil Sharma, president of the Resident Doctors’ Association at IGMC Shimla, said revoking the termination order was the association’s sole demand.
“All the resident doctors’ associations and today even the doctors from our dental college are standing in support of us. Our only request to the government is that the termination of Dr Raghav Nirula should be revoked. The Chief Minister has told us that there will be an inquiry into the entire matter,” said Dr Sharma.
However, he added that the manner in which the action was taken had created deep resentment within the medical community.
“The message sent to resident doctors and the entire medical community is alarming. The resentment and harassment are so high that everyone feels that if, within six hours, you are suspended, and within 48 hours you are terminated, a 10-year-long career comes to an abrupt end,” he said.
He argued that every incident has two sides and questioned the speed of the disciplinary process.
“From day one, I have been saying that there are always two sides to an incident. Why was there provocation? Why were such circumstances created? After all, doctors are human. Even assuming misconduct, we observed that the government suspended the doctor within six hours, which we accepted. But within 48 hours, through a disciplinary committee, the doctor was terminated,” Dr Sharma said.
Referring to the personal impact on the terminated doctor, Sharma said Dr Narula was under severe mental distress. “He feels his entire career has ended, and his dignity is at stake,” he said.
Sharma warned that the incident had created a wider climate of fear in hospitals. “A negative narrative has been created against doctors. Today, whether in wards, OPDs or emergency services, doctors are working under fear. If a patient threatens a doctor, saying, ‘See me first or I will get you terminated,’ it creates an atmosphere of fear. In such an environment, doctors are asking how they can continue to work,” he said.
The Resident Doctors’ Association said the strike would continue until the government agrees to revoke the termination order.
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