Panchkula, Aug. 5 -- Healthcare services across government facilities in Panchkula were disrupted on Monday after hospital staff observed a one-hour "pen-down" strike to protest the implementation of a geo-fencing-based attendance system. The protest, led by doctors, pharmacists, nursing officers, multi-purpose health workers, and Class IV employees, began at Sector 6 civil hospital and extended to community health centers (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Kalka, Pinjore, Morni, and Raipur Rani. The geo-fencing system, introduced by the state health department, uses location tracking to monitor employee attendance. Staff members have called the move intrusive, claiming it violates their privacy and is being imposed without consultation. The brief strike had a cascading effect on patient services. With over 5,000 patients visiting the Sector 6 hospital OPD after the weekend, the delay in doctor reporting caused long queues and backlog in patient registrations. Many patients were left waiting for over two hours, while others struggled to access lab tests and medicines. Hospital staff have demanded the roll back of the attendance system and warned of further protests if their concerns are not addressed. Patients and attendants, meanwhile, bore the brunt of the disruption, highlighting the fragility of public health services....