Chhattisgarh Health Officers to gherao Swasthya Bhawan on November 5 over pending incentives

Community Health Officers (CHOs) across Chhattisgarh are planning to gherao Swasthya Bhawan in Nava Raipur on November 5 over pending incentive payments and various service-related issues.

The protest called by the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Community Health Officer Sangh will see the involvement of 3,500 health officers. As per sources, the CHOs have raised concerns over delays in incentive payments, alleged selective action against CHOs in an incentive-related investigation and increasing workload at sub-health centres.

According to the association, incentive payments that are supposed to be released every month have remained pending for the past seven to eight months. The organisation claimed that despite instructions to complete verification through the PLP portal by the 10th of every month, delays at district and block levels have affected the payment process.

The association has also demanded that pending incentives be released and that the payment structure be reviewed to incorporate the incentive amount into the basic salary. It has sought a fair investigation into alleged irregularities in incentive payments, including the matter concerning Sukma district.

Other demands include clearly defined duties for all staff members at sub-health centres and disciplinary action against officials responsible for delays in verification and payments.

Community Health Officers are key driver of services at primary healthcare services through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The proposed agitation could raise concerns over the functioning of primary healthcare services if it affects routine duties at these centres.

The association has urged the state government and National Health Mission authorities to address its demands before November 5. It has warned of a wider, phased agitation if the issues remain unresolved.