On Thursday, health services were crippled across Himachal Pradesh as 90 percent of doctors working in government hospitals went on mass leave to seek restoration of non-practicing allowance (NPA).

Patients had to face trouble getting medical care. Although emergency services were not affected. Meanwhile, doctors arranged blood donation camps in several districts during their mass leave.

The doctors were in demand for the restoration of the NPA from the state government for a long period. Even though they have been on a two-hour pen-down strike for the past few weeks.

According to the report in The Tribune, Dr. Vikas Thakur, Secretary, of the Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA), said, “Over 90 percent of doctors went on mass casual leave in health facilities ranging from primary health centers (PHCs) to district hospitals”. Further, Dr. Vikas added, “In medical colleges, doctors supported our demands by wearing black badges”.

Dr. Vikas said that a delegation of doctors met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on June 3, 2023, to raise their demand for NPA. The Chief Minister then assured them that their demands would be fulfilled. But eight months have passed, and no concrete steps have yet been taken by the government in the matter.

He also notified that the association will intensify the movement if their demands are not fulfilled.

Previously, the doctors used to get 20 percent of their basic pay as NPA. The Congress-led state government decided to discontinue the scheme in May 2023, which resulted in financial losses for the doctors.

Earlier, it was reported that the newly appointed government doctors in Himachal Pradesh will not receive a non-practicing allowance (NPA) anymore as the state government announced its decision to terminate it.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)