No increment, no duty: Health officials

Patiala, May 7

Officials of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), a branch of the National Health Mission, Punjab, have announced to boycott the Covid duty from Friday.

They 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 Covid duty. But the government had withdrawn the increment decision due to which the IDSP branch had decided to boycott duty from Friday, the officials said.

Dr Yuvraj Narang, nodal officer, said, “We are working at the frontline 24×7 to stem the spread of the pandemic. We collect samples and data of suspected patients in containment zones by risking our lives. However, the authorities are insensitive and they have stopped our increments.” Dr Swati, a microbiologist, said they had already informed the state government and the NRHM director to give them revised salary or else they would strike work. The Managing Director of the NHM, Punjab, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. — TNS