Hundreds of employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM), including doctors and paramedic staff, staged a 72-hour-long protest at the premises of Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Sopore, which commenced on Wednesday, pressing for the resolution of their long-pending demands, including job security, salary revision and social security benefits.
The protesting employees raised slogans in support of their demands and expressed disappointment over what they described as the prolonged delay in addressing issues concerning their service conditions and welfare.
The employees said they have been rendering their services in the health sector for years and have played an important role in strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly at the grassroots level.
Despite their continued contribution, they alleged that their concerns regarding employment security, remuneration and social protection remain unresolved.
During the protest, the employees demanded a concrete policy for their job security, revision of their salaries in accordance with their responsibilities and experience, and extension of appropriate social security benefits.
The protesters urged the concerned authorities to initiate meaningful dialogue with their representatives and take immediate steps to address their grievances. They warned that failure to consider their demands seriously could lead to further agitation.
However, the ongoing strike by NHM employees at SDH Sopore has adversely affected healthcare services, leaving patients and attendants to face considerable inconvenience. With a number of employees participating in the protest over their long-pending demands, routine hospital work has been disrupted, resulting in delays in services and difficulties for patients seeking medical care.
The employees appealed to the administration and health authorities to intervene at the earliest, saying that a satisfactory resolution of their long-pending issues would not only provide relief to the workforce but also help ensure uninterrupted healthcare services for the public.
BMO Sopore, Dr. Zulfikar, said that on the first day of the 72-hour-long protest by NRHM employees, which began today, healthcare services at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Sopore were managed smoothly. He said that the hospital administration made necessary arrangements to ensure that patients did not face major inconvenience. However, the BMO cautioned that if the protest continues for a longer period, it may have an impact on healthcare services at the hospital.
