The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a series of measures to address long-pending service-related issues of contract employees in the Health and Medical Education departments, providing relief to radiographers, nurses and other staff working in Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

A press statement on Friday said responding positively to the demands made by the Contract Employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC), Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav directed officials to resolve the issues and the Department Secretary G. Veerapandian and Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu conducted reviews and subsequently issued orders on various matters concerning contract employees.

A special concession has been granted to contract radiographers and radiographic technicians exposed to radiation hazards during their duties. Eligible staff working in X-ray and radiology departments of teaching hospitals will be entitled to 30 days of compulsory special leave after completing every 11 months of service.

This special leave should not be deducted from their regular leave account, the authorities have been told, according to the statement.

Staff shortage

Guidelines have been issued to address staff shortages and to adjust duties at PHCs based on local requirements. Available personnel are to be utilised effectively to meet operational needs. The services of Male Nursing Orderlies (MNOs) and Female Nursing Orderlies (FNOs) may be utilised during the daytime, while the services of Sanitary Attendants/Ward Attendants (SAWs) may be deployed at night, wherever necessary, particularly to assist staff engaged in night duties.

Shift rotation system

To reduce the burden of continuous 12-hour shifts on nurses, where three nurses are posted at a PHC and one is on leave, duties should be adjusted among the available staff through a rotation system. Officials have also been instructed to ensure that a nurse does not have to perform a continuous 12-hour shift during the day. The services of locally available ANMs should also be effectively utilised for duty adjustments.

Students pursuing DMLT and B.Sc. (MLT) courses will now be permitted to undergo clinical training at PHCs and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs). As part of their six- or 12-month clinical training, students can undergo one month of practical training at PHCs and UPHCs. District Medical and Health Officers will allot training centres to the students.

Another key decision relates to incentives provided through the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust (NTRVST) for surgeries and medical procedures. Contract paramedical staff participating in such procedures will also be entitled to a share of the incentives, based on their cadre and the prescribed norms. The eligible categories include staff nurses, operation theatre (OT) technicians, anaesthesia technicians, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and other associated paramedical personnel.

The officials concerned have been told that details of surgeries conducted each month, the staff who participated in them and the incentive amounts payable to each employee should be displayed on the notice boards.