Bengaluru Doctors' And Healthcare Staff To Go On Strike Tomorrow, OPD Services To Remain Shut For Five Days

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 16:34 IST

The doctors' associations have raised several service-related demands including the filling of nearly 39,000 vacant posts for doctors, paramedics, support staff in govt hospitals

Government doctors and healthcare staff under the Karnataka Health and Medical Education Department will begin a phased protest across the state from March 11, demanding action on long-pending service issues including promotions, cadre rule revisions, filling of vacancies and salary delays.

The protest call has been issued by the Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association along with several other medical and employees’ associations. As part of the first phase of the agitation from March 11 to March 15, doctors in district hospitals, taluk hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres will wear black badges and boycott Out-Patient Department (OPD) services while continuing to attend emergency cases.

OPD Services to Remain Suspended

According to the associations, OPD services in government hospitals across Karnataka will remain closed from March 11 to March 15 during the first phase of the protest.

Doctors and healthcare staff will attend only emergency duties during this period. The move is expected to affect routine consultations and outpatient treatments in district hospitals, taluk hospitals and primary health centres.

Addressing reporters in Dharwad on Monday, Devidas Shantikar, president of the Dharwad district unit of the State Health and Medical Education Department Employees Association, said the agitation was being organised to press for the fulfilment of several long-pending demands.

Indefinite Strike Warning

Medical associations have warned that the agitation will intensify if the government fails to address their concerns.

The second phase of the protest will begin on March 16 with an indefinite strike across the state. Associations have indicated that if the government does not respond even after the first phase, doctors and healthcare staff may suspend all duties as part of the indefinite strike.

Dr Ravindranath M Meti, president of the Government Medical Employees Association, said doctors had not received any formal invitation for discussions from the government so far. He said the associations were open to talks if the government invited them before the protest begins.

Doctors List Key Demands

The protesting associations have raised several service-related demands. These include the immediate filling of nearly 39,000 vacant posts for doctors, paramedics and support staff in government hospitals.

They have also sought revision of cadre and recruitment rules, publication of seniority lists across cadres to ensure transparency in promotions, and appointment of Health Department staff to N-cadre posts in autonomous institutions under departments such as Medical Education, Food Safety and urban local bodies.

Salary Delays and Contract Workers’ Issues

Another major concern raised by the associations relates to job security and salary delays faced by contractual staff, particularly those employed under the National Health Mission.

According to the unions, thousands of employees working under centrally sponsored schemes have reportedly been receiving salaries only once every three to four months for several years. The associations have demanded that salaries be paid monthly within the first week and that contractual employees be given salary parity with staff under the Medical Education Department.

Government Warns of Legal Action

Reacting to the strike announcement, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the proposed boycott of medical services was a serious issue and warned that the government could take legal action if patient care is affected.

Officials in the Health Department are currently reviewing possible measures against doctors who abstain from duty during the protest.

The strike has also received support from government employees’ unions and protests are expected to take place at district and taluk headquarters across Karnataka. If the agitation continues beyond March 15, healthcare services in government hospitals across the state could face significant disruption.

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