Indefinite Strike by Resident Doctors at IGMC Shimla

At Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla, the corridors that usually bustle with patients and doctors have fallen silent. Resident doctors, upset over the termination of their colleague Dr. Raghav Narula after a scuffle in the hospital, have taken the drastic step of going on an indefinite strike.

For the doctors, this is about safety and fairness. They argue that no proper action has been taken against those who attacked the hospital staff, leaving them feeling vulnerable. Their demands are clear: revoke Dr. Raghav’s dismissal, ensure strict legal action against the attackers, and fix the gaps in hospital security.

But while the doctors fight for justice, patients are left stranded. Routine services, OPDs, and elective surgeries have been shut down since December 27, with only emergency care continuing. Families who traveled long distances for treatment now wait in endless queues, only to return home disappointed.

The strike has turned everyday medical needs into a struggle. Normally, IGMC performs around 50 general operations daily, but only two emergency surgeries were carried out during the protest. Other hospitals in Shimla, like Kamla Nehru and Ripon, are also overwhelmed, with long lines and frustrated patients.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has stepped in, condemning Dr. Raghav’s termination and backing the resident doctors. They insist that violence against medical staff is unacceptable, and that no doctor should be singled out without due process.

For now, the standoff continues. Doctors demand written assurances before returning to work, while patients—many from remote villages—bear the brunt of the deadlock. It’s a stark reminder that when trust breaks down between healers and the system meant to protect them, the ones who suffer most are those who come seeking care.