Bhopal's Healthcare Plunges into Crisis as Contract Workers go on Indefinite Strike

Contract health workers across the state have started a strong agitation in the capital Bhopal from Tuesday regarding their demands.

Around 32,000 contract workers associated with NHM (National Health Mission) have announced an indefinite strike by staging a sit-in in the hospital premises located at 1250.

From vaccination to maternal-child services affected

The direct impact of this strike is being seen on the health servicesof the state. Many essential services were disrupted on the very first day of the agitation which started on Tuesday.

• The vaccination program remained completely stalled
• Examination of pregnant women, services in NRC (Newborn Care Center) and SNCU (Special Newborn Care Unit) remained halted
• VP, sugar and other tests of patients coming to NCD (non-communicable disease) clinics could not be done

What are the main demands of contract employees?

The Contract Health Employees Union says that they are not getting benefits as per the announcements made by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Contract Policy 2023 of the General Administration Department.

The employees also made it clear that the strike will continue until:

• They are provided with stabilization or service security
• NPS (New Pension System) facility
• And the provisions of the contract policy are not fully implemented.
• Anger over the silence of the government

The union says that despite several memorandums and requests, no concrete action has been taken on their problems by the administration. Therefore, now they have to take the path of agitation.