Demanding job regularization, contractual employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) scheme carried out cleanliness drive as a mark of protest on January 3 at SNM Hospital, Leh.

Due to the continuous protest of employees of NHM, RNTCP, NACO & other schemes has affected the health services to a large extent in all region of Leh district.

 

Stanzin Dolma, ICTC Counsellor, SNM hospital, Leh said, “From last 13 years, more than 400 contractual employees under NHM has been working dedicatedly at very low salaries in the different region of Leh district. From last 15 days, the contractual employees have been protesting in every region of J&K.  Today we also fight for justice and request for regularization and proper draft policy to the government”.

“In district Hospital, due to this protest, some of the blocks remained closed. However, looking at the humanitarian ground, we deployed our NHM staffs as always in Gynae ward,” she added.

Stanzin Geleks, President, All NHM Employees Association, Leh said, “We are going to continue the protest if the government fails to accomplish our demand till 6 January. In most of the hospital, there are NHM workers working in different blocks of Leh district and because of the protest, people are suffering. There are 18 medical sub centers which are run by NHM staff, so these areas facing lots of inconveniences.”

While asking about the shortage of staff and problem faced in SNM hospital, Leh due to this protest, Dr. Tsering Samphel, MS, Leh said, “There is already a shortage of staff in SNM hospital. We have staffs for only 150 beds but the staffs are working for 250. Due to this protest, the hospital is almost on the verge of getting defunct. We have some doctor in NHM scheme and their impact is clearly seen these days. It is very difficult to manage the hospital and patients”.

“Seeing the workload during such time, they should be regularized so that we cater proper healthcare facilities for patients as well as for smooth functioning of the Health Department,” he added.

The protest was also continued on the following day at SNM Hospital, Leh.