NHM workers' strike hits health services in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 5

Even the sharp rise in Covid cases has failed to dissuade employees of the National Health Mission (NHM) and Health Department across Punjab from protesting, putting health services on the verge of collapse. Residents are not getting vaccinated, while sampling has also gone down as neither the protesting employees are working nor are they allowing others to work.

Doctors alleged that they tried to resume vaccination and sampling, but the protesting employees had been creating problems. All NHM employees, including computer operators, information assistants, pharmacists, staff nurses, multipurpose health workers, lab technicians, staff posted in operation theatres, etc., have been on strike for two months. They are demanding regularisation of services.

“We know patients are suffering, but the government has been unjust. We are working on meagre salaries for 15 years. We want regular job or equal pay,” said Dr Wahid Mohd of NHM Employees Union.

SMO Dr Baljit Singh said only doctors and Class-IV employees were working.