Feeling let down over no increment, health officials decide to go on strike
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 7
Officials of the district health department have announced to boycott coronavirus duty from tomorrow.
The officials said they wouldn’t report for the coronavirus duty because they felt “let down” by the state government.
The officials of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) — a branch of National Health Mission Punjab — said the government had announced an increment to the IDSP branch for working 24*7.
They had been looking after over 12 health programmes in the state along with coronavirus.
Rudely, the government had already withdrawn the decision of awarding an increment, therefore, the IDSP branch decided not to do their duty from tomorrow, officials said.
Dr Yuvraj Narang, the nodal officer, said, “We are working on the frontline 24×7 to stem the spread of coronavirus. We collect samples of suspected coronavirus patients and data in the containment areas, thereby, risking our lives. However, authority is so insensitive that they have stopped our increment.”
Dr Swati, a microbiologist, said they had already informed the state government and NRHM director to give them revised salary with the new increment or else they would go on strike.
“Despite working so hard and risking our lives, they are not giving an increment for our extra efforts in this fight against coronavirus,” she said.
Meanwhile, the managing director of Punjab National Health Mission could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
