MANDI: (Munish Sood)
Junior resident doctors at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Medical College and Hospital (SLBSMC&H) at Ner Chowk in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh have launched an indefinite strike, citing non-payment of salaries for the past three months.
As the strike entered its fourth day, the disruption in services has begun to impact patients significantly. While the doctors have completely halted OPD (outpatient department) services, they continue to provide emergency care.
The protest highlights the mounting challenges faced by these young doctors, who depend on their stipends not only to cover daily expenses but also to fund their education.
Three months without salary make survival difficult
Dr Naman Sharma, a junior resident doctor, shared the hardships faced by the medical fraternity. “For the past three months, we haven’t received a single rupee of our stipend. This has made it extremely difficult for us to manage basic living expenses and continue our studies. We have no choice but to strike, but this is affecting both our academics and the patients who depend on us,” he said.
Junior resident doctors in Himachal Pradesh typically receive a government-funded stipend as compensation for their services and to support their medical training. However, despite repeated appeals, no payments have been made to doctors at SLBSMC&H since August.
‘Statewide disparity’ in payments
While junior resident doctors in other government medical colleges across Himachal Pradesh have been receiving their stipends on time, only SLBSMC&H has been left out. This anomaly has added to the frustration among the protesting doctors.
“The government has been informed multiple times, but no action has been taken so far. We are left with no option but to continue the strike,” said Dr. Saurav Ratna, president of the Junior Resident Doctors’ Association. He further added that their protest has received overwhelming support from senior resident doctors and other medical staff, many of whom are wearing black badges to express solidarity.
Impact on patients and healthcare system
The indefinite strike has brought outpatient services at SLBSMC&H to a standstill, affecting hundreds of patients who rely on the hospital for affordable healthcare. While emergency services remain operational, the situation has disrupted the hospital’s routine functioning.
Patients arriving from remote areas are bearing the brunt of the strike, with many forced to seek treatment at private facilities, often at a higher cost.
Dr Rajesh Kumar, Acting Principal of SLBSMC&H, acknowledged the issue and assured that steps are being taken to resolve the crisis. “We have informed the Secretary of Health and the state government about the situation. Efforts are underway to release the pending salaries, and we expect a resolution soon,” he said.
The junior doctors have made it clear that if their demands are not met soon, they will intensify their protest. “This is not just about us; this is about the healthcare system that serves the people of this region. We urge the government to address this issue immediately,” said Dr Ratna.
