Ayushman Arogya Kendras in Ludhiana district presented a largely deserted picture on Monday as Community Health Officers (CHOs) staged a mass protest at the National Health Mission (NHM) headquarters in Chandigarh, pressing for written assurances on long‑standing demands, officials and aggrieved patients said.
Services disrupted, rural patients left without consultations
Thousands of CHOs from across the state gathered at the NHM office in Chandigarh and launched an indefinite sit‑in, regional CHO association leaders said. The absence of CHOs and other staff at Ayushman Arogya Kendras forced patients who travelled from villages to return without medical consultation, according to accounts from the ground.
“This is my third visit. Every time, the medical officer is not present. Why are these centres opened when doctors are not on duty. The government should not allow stopping of basic services like healthcare,” said Davinder Kumar, a patient who went to the Ayushman Arogya Kendra at Hambran.
“A handwritten strike note on the door is what I saw when I went to a nearby Ayushman Arogya Kendra. I have a check‑up due and have been making rounds of the centers. Now, I think I should see a private doctor,” said Mandeep Kaur, a resident of Ayali.
Workers demand salary change, reject performance‑linked increment
CHO leaders told reporters that their main unresolved grievance is the state government’s decision to link a ₹5,000 increment to incentives and performance benchmarks rather than incorporating it into the basic salary. The association demanded that the sum be added directly to basic pay without conditionalities.
Association representatives said repeated meetings and correspondence with senior officials had produced only assurances and no concrete resolution, prompting the escalation to an indefinite sit‑in. They asserted the protest will continue until their demands are accepted in writing with specific commitments.
Union asserts continued community service but demands formal settlement
While leaders emphasised CHOs’ dedication to primary healthcare delivery at the village level, they argued that verbal reassurances were insufficient. The association reiterated that CHOs had fulfilled their responsibilities and expected the government to acknowledge their contributions through regularisation of pay and other measures.
Immediate effects and alternatives for patients
Local residents reported closures or absence of staff at several Ayushman Arogya Kendras, with some centres displaying handwritten notices about the strike. Patients with routine appointments or medication needs faced uncertainty.
Health officials at district level have not released an official statement on contingency arrangements for affected patients at the time of reporting. In many such disruptions, district administrations typically advise using alternate public health facilities or private practitioners; patients are recommended to confirm availability before travel.
What the CHOs want
- Addition of ₹5,000 to basic pay rather than linking it to incentives and performance metrics.
- Formal, written commitments from the state government addressing other long‑pending issues raised by CHOs (details of other demands were not enumerated in the available report).
- Immediate settlement of grievances through negotiated terms rather than repeated meetings without outcomes.
| Issue | CHO demand |
|---|---|
| Increment structure | Add ₹5,000 to basic pay (not performance‑linked) |
| Resolution format | Written commitments with clear timelines |
District health functionaries and NHM officials were contacted for comment; at the time of filing no official response had been recorded in the public domain. The protest is centred at NHM headquarters in Chandigarh, making it a state‑level escalation.
Context and potential implications
Ayushman Arogya Kendras form an important link in primary care and early diagnosis for rural populations. Prolonged withdrawal of staff from such centres can increase pressure on higher tier facilities and force patients to seek private care. The CHOs’ insistence on a written settlement reflects broader tensions that often arise in contract and incentive structures across public health programmes.
Health experts routinely advise patients to keep essential medicines on hand and to verify service availability with local centres during industrial action or staff shortages. Those requiring urgent care should approach higher‑level government hospitals or emergency services as appropriate.
The indefinite sit‑in by CHOs marks an escalation that authorities will need to address promptly to restore routine primary health services for rural residents, who depend on Ayushman Arogya Kendras for first‑contact care.
