Former national president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and advocate Fairoz Khan on Thursday extended support to the protesting National Health Mission (NHM) employees of Jammu and Kashmir, while urging the government to ensure that the ongoing strike does not disrupt essential healthcare services, particularly in the remote and mountainous areas of Ramban district.
Khan said NHM employees had played an important role in strengthening the public healthcare system and had continued to serve people in difficult and far-flung areas for years. He said their long-pending demands concerning job security, remuneration, retirement benefits and social security deserved serious, meaningful and time-bound consideration by the government.
“At the same time, the impact of the ongoing strike on ordinary patients cannot be overlooked. People living in remote and mountainous areas are particularly vulnerable when local health facilities become non-functional,” Khan said.
According to information received from the ground, 65 health facilities and centres across different parts of Ramban district have reportedly been affected or closed amid the ongoing strike, raising concerns over access to basic medical services in several areas.
Among the reportedly affected facilities in Block Ukheral are SC Chaka, SC Charwari, SC Trana, SC Manjoos, SC Nachalana, SC Kawna, SC Gujrara, SC Tajnihal, SC Chunthan, SC Paristan, SC Bassan, SC Hoochak, SC Bingara, SC Lablotha, SC Phagmulla, SC Darzipora, SC Noora Pogal, SC Kharwan, SC Nowgam, SC Surunga, SC Cherwari and SC Buzla.
Other facilities reportedly affected include Tattaraso, Karol, Kundi, Gandote, Panthyal, Chakwa, Kumate, Palli, Duthan, Kabbhi, Karma, Wanga, Kudji, Chacknarwah, Amkoot, Krawa, Lamber, Asher, Gangna, Chamalwas, Doligam, Chanjloo, Chachihaal, Chapnari and Bajnarii.
The reported list also includes SC Kalimasta, SC Gundi, SC Salbala, SC Harrog, SC Bandachan, SC Dachan Gali, SC Upper Dalwah, SC Zuthnal, SC Chachawah and NTPHC Dharam.
Khan said the legitimate concerns of NHM employees should be addressed without allowing patients to bear the consequences of the dispute.
“We support the NHM employees, but we also stand with the patients. A poor patient from a remote village cannot be expected to travel several kilometres simply because the local health centre is not functioning,” he said.
He urged the government to immediately initiate meaningful negotiations with representatives of NHM employees and work towards a time-bound resolution of their demands. At the same time, he called for immediate alternative arrangements at health facilities where services have been affected.
Khan suggested that regular doctors, paramedical staff and other available healthcare personnel be deployed wherever necessary to ensure continuity of emergency services, maternal and child healthcare, medicines, diagnostics and other essential patient-care facilities.
Referring to directions issued by the Health Department for reorganisation of available manpower and duty rosters at healthcare institutions in Kashmir to maintain essential services during the NHM strike, Khan urged the authorities to adopt similar measures wherever required in Ramban.
He appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s Administration, Health Department and district authorities to treat the issue as an urgent matter and ensure that the ongoing employee-government dispute does not develop into a healthcare crisis for the public.
