Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, April 4: The strike by health and medical college employees across Jammu and Kashmir entered its fourth consecutive day on Saturday, with no breakthrough in sight, even as patient care continues to suffer across hospitals and health institutions in the Union Territory.
The agitation, spearheaded by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Health and Medical College employees, has seen massive participation from employees across districts and block-level institutions. Protest demonstrations and rallies were held within hospital premises, reflecting a unified stand against the deduction of two-and-a-half days’ salary, a decision employees have termed arbitrary, unjust and demoralizing.
A significant protest was also staged at Press Club Jammu, where a large number of employees from Government Medical College Jammu, its associated hospitals, and Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar assembled to voice their resentment against the administration. Protesters raised slogans and demanded immediate rollback of the order issued by the Finance Department on January 20, 2026.
Addressing the gathering, JKMEF leaders criticized the Government for what they described as an indifferent and delayed response to the genuine concerns of healthcare workers. They pointed out that the employees have consistently delivered essential medical services, often working beyond duty hours during emergencies and public health crises, and said that such measures adversely affect their morale and efficiency.
The leaders appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene in the matter and keep the contentious order in abeyance. They also called for constructive dialogue with the authorities to resolve the issue amicably.
Reiterating their resolve, employee representatives said the agitation would continue in a peaceful and democratic manner until their demands are met and the deducted salaries are restored. They further warned that the protest could be intensified in the coming days if no concrete action is taken.
Meanwhile, the prolonged strike has begun to take a visible toll on patient care, with routine services disrupted in several hospitals. With no let-up in the agitation, concerns are mounting over the deepening impact on healthcare delivery, as authorities are yet to announce any decisive step to end the deadlock.
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