Mid-Level Health Providers stage hunger protest

The Tamil Nadu Midlevel Healthcare Providers’ Union on Monday staged a hunger protest in Chennai to raise several of their demands, including job regularisation, ‘equal pay for equal work’, maternity leave benefits, and a salary increase on par with other States.

A total of 4,848 Mid Level Health Providers (MLHP) are working in Health and Wellness Centres on a contract basis across the State. They were recruited in 2021 and carry out 12 services, including antenatal care, immunisation, emergency referrals, adolescent care, family welfare, outpatient department services, non-communicable diseases, and National Health Mission activities.

N. Sundari, State president, Tamil Nadu Midlevel Healthcare Providers’ Union, said that they are demanding regularisation of their jobs. Noting that they were recruited under a Central government scheme, she said that MLHPs were paid ₹21,000 as salary in the State, whereas many other States paid a higher amount of more than ₹40,000 along with an incentive of ₹15,000. Apart from this, a 5 % increment remained unpaid from 2023.

In a press release, the union said that MLHPs were drawing salaries and incentives ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹70,000 across the country. For instance, in Maharashtra, they were paid ₹55,000, while it was ₹70,000 in Haryana, ₹45,000 in Madhya Pradesh, ₹62,000 in Karnataka and ₹43,000 in Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu should pay MLHPs on par with other States, the union demanded.

The MLHPs are seeking to be redesignated as Community Health Officers. Ms. Sundari said they were also seeking promotional opportunities as there were diploma/degree holders. The union said that MLHPs were also nurses and hence, as per court orders, should be provided maternity leave benefits.

Among other demands, the union sought grant of medical leave, provision of laptops as they take up data entry works, and posting of conservancy staff in Health and Wellness Centres.