DAMAULI, FEBRUARY 5

A dozen frontline health workers of Damauli Hospital in Tanahun district, who served during the first and second wave of COVID-19, have handed over a memo to the chief district officer demanding risk allowance.

The third wave of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the country. These frontline health workers hired on contract basis by the hospital bemoan that they have not been paid risk allowance for nearly 18 months.

In the memo, the health workers called for positive intervention of the CDO for releasing risk allowance to them. They have warned that they will not be able to continue their services if they are not provided with the risk allowance the government pledged to frontline health workers during the first and second wave.

Frontline workers are at high risk of COVID-19. The government had announced risk allowance to frontline workers serving amidst hazardous conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical officers such as Dr Astha Regmi, Dr Diwas Dhakal, Dr Puja Saiju and Dr Krishna Giri, among others, submitted the memo to CDO Bishwa Prakash Aryal.

Dr Sinjan Pandey said that they had been prodding the Hospital Development Committee officials for risk allowance but to no avail.

He said all the frontline health workers who risked their lives while treating COVID-19 suspects and infected patients during the first, second and ongoing third wave were discouraged to work further as they were deprived of allowance.

The health workers also apologised to patients for the inconvenience caused to them if doctors discontinued their services with effect from February 6.

Damauli Hospital Chief Dr Sunil Poudel informed that efforts were being made to provide risk allowances and salaries to health workers. He said the issue emanated from the delay in release of budget from the concerned agency.

According to Dr Poudel, the hospital management has already drawn the attention of the concerned agencies in this regard. The Ministry of Finance released the salary of two medical officers in the hospital while allowances for other health workers were taking forever to be released, he said.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 6, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.