The Diplomat Desk
Jammu :TDD, A delegation from the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation (JKMEF) led by its President, Sushil Sudan, met with Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, on Tuesday. The meeting focused on addressing several pressing issues faced by health employees in the Jammu province. The delegation submitted a memorandum outlining their demands.
A major concern raised by the JKMEF was the pending salary for employees under the major head 2211 (Family Welfare (CSS) and Health and Medical Education). The State Administrative Council had approved the regularization of salaries under this head in June 2024, and funds were released for the same. However, the salaries of affected employees have remained pending for the past six months, causing significant financial hardship.
The delegation also demanded a change in the nomenclature of Pharmacists to Pharmacy Officers, aligning with the central government’s initiative. They highlighted the crucial role pharmacists play in healthcare delivery across all levels of hospitals and argued that recognizing their service through a name change was essential.
Another critical issue addressed was the delay in releasing COVID-19 incentives for health department employees. The Lieutenant Governor had announced incentives for doctors, paramedical staff, drivers, and Class IV employees in May 2021. While employees at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and associated hospitals received their incentives promptly, others haven’t. The JKMEF urged the government to expedite the release of these long-awaited incentives.
Other Demands The delegation presented additional demands, including Reorganization of the Electrician Cadre in the health department based on Medical Education norms, Inclusion of all health department employees and pensioners under the Central Government Health Schemes to ensure better healthcare access, Development of a policy for regularization of staff employed under schemes like NHM, HDF, RNTCP, and contractual positions.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary listened attentively to the delegation’s concerns and assured them that the government would take prompt action to address their demands.
The meeting signifies the JKMEF’s proactive approach in advocating for the well-being of health employees in Jammu and Kashmir. The Deputy CM’s positive response offers hope for a swift resolution to these long-standing issues.TDD
