Srinagar, Sep 12: More than 12,000 National Health Mission (NHM) employees across J&K continued their protest on Saturday as part of their extended 72-hour strike over long-pending demands, including a comprehensive job policy, salary revision and social-security benefits.
The Jammu & Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA) UT-Level Coordination Committee commenced the 72-hour strike on September 9, with employees staging protests at district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir.
Amid the ongoing strike, the Health Department Kashmir has directed all Medical Superintendents, Block Medical Officers and heads of institutions under its administrative control to ensure the presence of all available regular staff in hospitals.
DHSK directed all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) and heads of institutions to ensure that adequate regular staff remains available on duty in all critical and patient-care areas.
“Essential services including OPD, IPD, Emergency, Labour Room, OT, diagnostics, pharmacy and other patient-care services are maintained without interruption,” the order said.
The Directorate further directed that duty rosters be suitably adjusted wherever required to ensure adequate manpower during the strike period. It said patient care and essential health services should not suffer due to the absence of NHM staff.
“Any shortage of manpower adversely affecting essential services shall be brought to the notice of this Directorate immediately for appropriate intervention,” it said.
Meanwhile, commenting on the NHM employees’ strike, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said she had met the employees several times and maintained that healthcare workers posted in sensitive and critical-care areas should not leave their duties to participate in protests.
She said the government had not rejected their demands and assured that efforts were being made to address the issues that fall within the government’s jurisdiction, while other matters had already been taken up with the Government of India.
“I have already taken up the matter with the Union Health Minister in a conference, and this was my main point. We have also sent the proposal to the Government of India,” she said.
“We are examining the matter. We request them to resume their duties. The government is working on their issues,” she added.
However, JKNHMEA Chief Spokesperson Abdul Rauoof said NHM employees had been protesting for their rights for a long time and remained an important component of the healthcare delivery system.
He said NHM employees continued to perform their duties in hospitals despite several unresolved issues concerning their service conditions and future.
“The NHM employees have been protesting for their rights for a long time. They are an important component of the healthcare delivery system and continue to perform their duties in hospitals,” Rauoof said.
He said the association was demanding a secure job policy, salary revision, retirement benefits and social-security measures to provide financial and social protection to employees and their families.
Rauoof said the association had repeatedly raised these issues through appropriate forums and sought a meaningful and time-bound resolution from the government.
“Despite repeatedly raising these issues, the government has failed to resolve them and has only given assurances,” he said.
The latest agitation comes five months after a 48-hour strike held by NHM employees in April over similar demands. The protest was called off on April 2 after representatives met Health Minister Sakina Itoo, who had assured them that their grievances would be addressed.
