The Haryana government doctors' call for token strike today received little response as barring two or three, all the doctors remained on duty in the hospitals of twin cities of Ambala. 

The doctors attended the duty and worked in the OPD and other departments as usual. In fact, the two-hour token strike did not have any effect barring two or three doctors who joined the strike in support of their demands. The doctors seemed to have fears after the state government invoked ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) for continuing medical services in the hospitals. The doctors came on duty and examined the patients in the OPD. It seemed as if there was no strike by the doctors. 

The strike failed mainly because the government had made alternate arrangements in place of the doctors who had given call for joining the strike. Only two doctors had joined the strike for two hours today. The Ambala Cantt hospital SMO Dr Satish Kumar said that of the total 38 doctors 32 were on duty and of the six included two on casual leave, two on court evidence duty and the remaining two who remained on strike for two hours. Dr Manoj who supported the call of strike said that in view of the ESMA, the doctors did not go on strike but they joined pen down strike without affecting the health services. He said the government was not serious to accept the genuine demands of the doctors who had been compelled to announce the strike. 

He said the main demand of 40 per cent quota of doctors in HCM S PG have been abolished which affected the future of doctors. Meanwhile, Health Minister Anil Vij said that action would be taken against the doctors who had joined the strike today. He said that the profession of doctors was to serve the ailing people and the doctors who had gone on strike violating the ESMA would be allowed to remain absent from duty. 
He said that there was provision of one year sentence for violation of the Act.