Restoration of NPA: Himachal Pradesh Govt doctors go on mass leave

Shimla: The health services were crippled across Himachal Pradesh on Thursday as 90 per cent of doctors working in government hospitals went on a mass leave over non-fulfilment of their demand for restoration of non-practising allowance (NPA).

Patients had to face inconvenience in getting treatment. However, emergency services were not affected. Meanwhile, doctors organised blood donation camps in several districts during their mass leave.

The doctors have been demanding the restoration of NPA from the state government for a long time and are even on a two-hour pen-down strike for the past few weeks.

As per a media report in The Tribune, “Over 90 per cent doctors went on mass casual leave in health facilities ranging from Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to district hospitals,” said Dr Vikas Thakur, Secretary, Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA). “In medical colleges, doctors supported our demands by wearing black badges,” he added. 

Thakur said Sukhu had then assured them that their demands will be fulfilled, however, eight months have passed and no concrete steps have yet been taken by the government in the matter.

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

Earlier the doctors used to get 20 per cent of their basic pay as NPA and the decision to discontinue the scheme by the Congress-led state government in May 2023 resulted in financial losses to the doctors.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the newly appointed government doctors in Himachal Pradesh will not receive Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) anymore as the State Government announced its decision to terminate it.