Civil Surgeons to hire NHM staff, says Vij

Ambala: Health Minister Anil Vij has said that the state Government has decided to authorise Civil Surgeons to appoint staff under the NHM. The move comes in the wake of the ongoing strike by employees.

“Associations of doctors, lab attendants and NHM employees are going on strike one by one. Is this a joke? At a time when the state is fighting with dengue, chikungunya and malaria, the associations are making ridiculous excuses to go on strike. Our first responsibility is towards the state. None of their demands required immediate action. These could have been raised later,” Vij told the media today. He was in the city to hold a janata darbar.

“In public interest, the government has been decided to take strict action against contractual NHM employees who are on strike. All Civil Surgeons have been directed to make sure that the strike doesn’t affect ambulance and emergency services. It has been decided the Civil Surgeons will be given the authority to hire employees,” Vij said. Employees on strike are playing into the hands of some people. By doing so, they are not only causing loss to themselves, but to their colleagues as well. The series of strikes is an attempt to disturb healthcare services. TNS