SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 18: The Jharkhand State Medical and Public Health Employees Association (JSMPHEA) has urged the state government to provide life insurance coverage to contractual health employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari, the association said more than 12,000 contractual health workers, including ANMs, GNMs, CHOs, consultants, MPWs and Sahiyas, are engaged round-the-clock in delivering healthcare services across the state.
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However, it pointed out that if a contractual employee dies while on duty, the family does not receive any financial assistance from the government.
The association noted that in such cases, families of deceased contractual health workers, who dedicate their lives to public service, are suddenly left without any support and face severe financial hardship.
JSMPHEA state general secretary Sanjut Sahay said that life insurance coverage for health workers is already provided under the Central government’s Recurring Operational Plan (ROP), making it puzzling that the same benefit has not been extended in Jharkhand.
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Sahay added that the association will soon convene a meeting to formulate a strategy to press the government to ensure that contractual health employees are brought under a life insurance safety net while discharging their duties.
