SRINAGAR — The continuing strike by National Health Mission (NHM) employees has prompted the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir to direct hospitals and other health institutions to reorganise available manpower and duty rosters to keep essential patient-care services operational.
The Directorate has asked Medical Superintendents, Block Medical Officers and heads of institutions to ensure that all available regular staff are present and appropriately deployed.
Institutions have specifically been directed to maintain adequate manpower in critical and patient-care areas, including outpatient departments (OPDs), inpatient departments (IPDs), emergency services, labour rooms, operation theatres, diagnostic services and pharmacies.
The Directorate has also authorised adjustments to duty rosters wherever required to maintain manpower during the absence of NHM personnel.
Hospitals and other institutions have been asked to immediately report any shortage of manpower affecting essential services to the Directorate so that necessary intervention can be made.
The directions provide an indication of the operational impact of the strike, which has entered its second week after NHM employees extended their agitation by another 72 hours from September 15.
According to their association, more than 12,000 NHM employees are participating in the agitation across Jammu and Kashmir. The employees are demanding pay parity, a comprehensive policy for job security and regularisation, and social security benefits including EPF, ESI and insurance coverage.
Reports from different districts have indicated varying effects on health services. In Anantnag, around 700 NHM employees were reported to have remained off duty, with several hospitals operating with limited services.
The strike also involves personnel working under different NHM programmes, including the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. Employees associated with the programme have said its functioning has been affected during the agitation.
NHM employees extended the strike after talks with the government failed, according to the supplied report, to produce a written assurance or a time-bound resolution of their demands.
The agitation continues across Jammu and Kashmir.
The article first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse at https://kashmirpulse.com/health/nhm-strike-kashmir-hospitals-told-to-reshuffle-staff-protect-essential-services/116385.html
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