Srinagar, Sep 12 (JKNS): Medical services across district hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and other government health facilities in Jammu and Kashmir remained disrupted as around 12,000 employees deployed under the National Health Mission (NHM) extended their strike by another 72 hours.
The strike, called by the J&K National Health Mission Employees Association, has affected doctors, paramedical staff, administrative personnel and workers associated with various national health programmes, including the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
According to news agency JKNS, the employees have extended the strike after negotiations with the administration failed to yield a written assurance or a definite timeline for addressing their demands.
Abdul Rauf, Chief Spokesperson of the J&K NHM Employees Association, urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to intervene and honour the commitments made to NHM employees.
The association said its demands include a clear and time-bound regularisation policy for employees who have served for nearly two decades, job and social security including retirement benefits, social security coverage and medical insurance, besides a salary structure based on equal pay for equal work and implementation of 7th Pay Commission benefits.
The employees have also sought appointments against vacant posts in the Health and Medical Education Department, saying experienced NHM personnel should be deployed against the thousands of vacancies.
Rauf said NHM employees had earlier announced a strike from April 2, 2026, following which the government invited the association for talks and sought a two-month grace period. The association subsequently deferred the strike based on the assurance.
However, the association alleged that instead of resolving the issues within the sought period, the government effectively shelved the matter for nearly six months, prompting the employees to resume their agitation from September 1.
The association said the government invited its representatives for a meeting on September 8, but no written assurance or time-bound roadmap was provided, following which the employees began a three-day strike.
Rauf said the association has now extended the strike by another 72 hours, till September 14, citing the government’s failure to address their demands.
He said the employees did not want to disrupt medical services or cause hardship to patients, but alleged that the government’s inaction had left them with no option but to continue their protest.
The association reiterated its appeal to the government to intervene and fulfil what it termed the legitimate demands of NHM employees. (JKNS)