24-Hour Strike By Rajasthan Private Doctors Impacts Healthcare Services

Private hospitals and clinics across Rajasthan suspended outpatient , inpatient , and emergency services for 24 hours on Tuesday as doctors went on a statewide strike called by the Indian Medical Association  Rajasthan chapter. The shutdown, which began at 8 am on April 14 and is scheduled to end at 8 am on April 15, has severely disrupted healthcare delivery, forcing many patients to turn to already overburdened government facilities or delay treatment.

The strike was triggered by the arrest of Dr Sondev Bansal, director of Nivik Hospital in Jaipur, over alleged irregularities linked to the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme . Private hospital associations, including the Rajasthan Alliance of Hospital Associations and the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association, have also announced an indefinite boycott of new transactions under the RGHS until Dr Bansal is released and related issues are resolved. Doctors claim a medical board had earlier given him a clean chit regarding any medical negligence, describing the arrest as unjust and creating widespread fear within the medical community.

Leaders of the IMA, including state president Dr Mahesh Chandra Sharma, expressed deep resentment, stating that the action was taken without proper dialogue and had hurt the dignity of the profession. They warned that any future arrests of doctors over alleged scheme-related discrepancies would lead to complete withdrawal of services. The protest has received backing from multiple private healthcare bodies, who decided at a meeting to halt generation of new transaction IDs under RGHS while continuing treatment for already admitted patients.

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The impact has been felt particularly in major cities like Jaipur, where private hospitals remained shut for both routine and emergency care during the strike period. Patients with RGHS coverage faced difficulties accessing cashless treatment, and reports emerged of long queues and overcrowding at government hospitals. While some critical emergencies were reportedly managed through coordination, the overall strain on the public health system has raised concerns about patient safety during the 24-hour bandh.

State health authorities have urged private facilities to ensure essential emergency services are not entirely withdrawn and have appealed for dialogue to resolve the impasse quickly. The IMA has maintained that the strike is symbolic and limited to one day, but the accompanying RGHS boycott could extend longer. As services are set to resume on Wednesday morning, the episode has once again highlighted ongoing tensions between private healthcare providers and the state government over the implementation and reimbursement processes under public health schemes.

The developments come amid broader debates on balancing patient rights with the concerns of private practitioners in Rajasthan’s mixed healthcare ecosystem. Both sides are expected to engage in further talks in the coming days to prevent prolonged disruption to medical services.

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