Jammu: The J&K government’s decision to form a committee to reinstate the two-and-a-half-day extra pay for non-gazetted employees of the health department had no effect, as health workers went on strike in medical colleges and other hospitals across the union territory. The strike paralysed health services, with outpatient services (OPD) being completely shut down. Employees further warned that if their demands are not met, hospitals across J&K will go on strike for two days on March 24 and 25.
Health workers across Jammu and Kashmir, following the call of the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Employees Joint Action Committee, went on strike. The strike was in protest against an order issued by the Director of Finance, Health and Medical Education Department, dated January 20, 2026. This order discontinues the allowance equivalent to two and a half days’ salary for non-gazetted health workers who perform duties on Sundays and gazetted holidays under the roster system.
The main protests were held outside the OPDs of the Government Medical College, Jammu, and at Gandhinagar Hospital, where all health workers gathered. They openly protested against the state government.
Outpatient services were suspended at any hospital in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. All hospitals remained locked, as doctors saw patients only in the emergency wings. The number of patients was also lower than usual, and many patients left without treatment. Labs also remained out of service.
Reports for many patients admitted to wards who had undergone tests the previous day were unavailable. An attendant of a patient admitted to Ward No. 11, went to the biochemistry lab to collect his test reports, but they were locked. He said he had been told to collect his report for today, but no one was available. Meanwhile, Harminder Singh, who had come from Poonch to the GMC for a test, said the outpatient department was closed. He was requesting treatment in the emergency room, but he would only get his test done on Friday. Similar situations prevailed at SMGS Hospital, Super Specialty Hospital, Gandhinagar Hospital, and Sarwal Hospital. Many patients were denied access to tests.
Due to the strike, the GMC’s emergency wing was overcrowded with patients. Normally, the emergency wing sees a relatively normal crowd from morning until noon, but by 5 pm on Thursday, more than 400 patients had been examined in the emergency room.
Dr. Virendra Trisal, Medical Superintendent of GMC Jammu, said that the OPD was already closed due to the strike. Arrangements were made in the emergency room. Patients’ tests were also conducted in the emergency room.
The one-day strike cost the Health and Medical Education Department lakhs of rupees. No outpatient department (OPD) slips were issued in any hospital. Routine tests were not performed. No admissions were made. OPD slips cost ten rupees, and more than four thousand patients arrive daily for checkups at GMC Jammu and affiliated hospitals alone.
Led by Sushil Sudan, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation, and Sardar Jaswinder Singh, President Arun Sharma from the Medical College, and others, the employees raised slogans against the government’s order to discontinue the two and a half days’ additional salary.
Addressing the employees, Jaswinder Singh, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation, strongly condemned the withdrawal of allowances. He termed it a clear violation of Government Order No. 274-HME dated March 4, 1991. He said that for over three decades, non-gazetted health employees have been receiving these payments for performing duties on Sundays and gazetted holidays, and the sudden withdrawal is completely unjust. He appealed to the Chief Minister, Health Minister, and Administrative Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department to personally intervene and resolve the issue expeditiously.
Sushil Sudan, chairman of the federation and a member of the Pharmacy Council of India, said that employees across the Union Territory are united in protecting their rights. He demanded the government immediately withdraw the controversial order and pay the pending allowances. Prominent speakers who addressed the gathering included Prafulat Singh, Rakesh Bakshi, Harpal Singh, Ajay Phool, Onkar Singh, Harpreet Kaur, Garu Sharma, Anoop Kohli, and Yograj. Health workers staged protests and completely stopped work in all medical colleges, district hospitals, sub-district hospitals, community health centres, Sarwal hospital, sub-district hospital Jagti, sub-district hospital Bishnah, Akhnoor, RS Pura, primary health centres of Jammu and Kashmir.
