The prolonged standoff between the Haryana government and the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association over the promotion of senior medical officers (SMOs) is set to intensify, with the latter calling for a complete shutdown of health services in government hospitals on December 8 and 9.

At the heart of the dispute lies the issue of promotions. Under the current policy, 75 per cent of SMO posts are filled through promotions from medical officers, while the remaining 25 per cent are reserved for direct recruitment. The HCMS Association has long demanded the discontinuation of direct recruitment, arguing that it limits promotional opportunities for medical officers. According to the association, direct recruits gain an undue advantage, leaving doctors who join as medical officers f

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