ITANAGAR, 18 Aug: Around 250 doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and other healthcare workers under the NGO-Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in Arunachal Pradesh demanded immediate release of their pending salaries, saying they have not been paid since March this year.
The healthcare workers engaged under NHM-PPP model said they have not received salaries despite continuing to serve in difficult and remote areas.
They allege that such delays occurred in the past too, with salaries withheld for seven to eight months at a stretch, followed by payment for only three or four months.
"This cycle of prolonged delays and partial releases has created severe financial uncertainty among healthcare workers and their families," they said, and demanded a monthly payment timeline and a mechanism to prevent future delays.
They said when salaries are withheld for months, many are forced to depend on personal savings, borrow money or seek financial assistance from family and friends.
The healthcare workers say releasing a few months' salary after several months of non-payment cannot be considered a sustainable solution.
"Healthcare cannot run on goodwill alone," they said.
"The healthcare system depends heavily on its frontline workers. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, ANMs, attendants and other support staff are the people who keep health facilities functioning on a daily basis."
"Their commitment to work in difficult locations deserves recognition-but commitment cannot substitute for a regular salary."
"For a state like Arunachal Pradesh, where geographical challenges make healthcare delivery particularly difficult, retaining trained healthcare professionals in remote areas is already a challenge. Prolonged salary delays could further discourage healthcare workers from serving in such locations," they said.
"How long can healthcare workers be expected to serve the people without being paid for their work? They questioned.
"We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the salary we have already earned by working and serving the people. How are healthcare workers expected to continue indefinitely without being paid?" said a healthcare worker on condition of anonymity.
They also demanded a mechanism to prevent future delays.
The healthcare workers said that in several remote parts of the state, PPP model healthcare facilities remain an important point of contact for communities with limited access to hospitals and specialist services.
"Doctors and nurses routinely work despite difficult road conditions, long travel distances, poor connectivity and challenging geographical terrain."
"Emergency cases, maternal and child healthcare, immunization, disease screening, outpatient services and other essential health programmes continue even under such difficult circumstances," they said.
The healthcare workers clarified that they are not against the PPP model itself. They just want the system to function in a way that protects both patients' access to healthcare and the financial security of the workers delivering those services.