Assam: The Assam community health professionals issue has received a major boost after the Gauhati High Court directed the Assam Government to create a separate service cadre for Rural Health Practitioners/Community Health Professionals. The Court also asked the State to quickly finalize rules on pay, promotions, health benefits, and other service benefits. The order aims to protect the rights of trained healthcare workers serving rural areas and improve healthcare delivery across Assam.
Assam Community Health Professionals Cadre: Court Directives
Justice Soumitra Saikia directed the Assam Government to speed up the work of an already formed committee. The committee has been asked to prepare clear rules and recommendations for Community Health Professionals. These recommendations must include:
- Creation of a separate service cadre.
- Pay scale and grade structure.
- Health and other service benefits.
- Promotion opportunities.
- Eligibility criteria and working modalities.
Assam Community Health Professionals Cadre: Committee Given 90 Days
The High Court instructed the committee to submit its recommendations within 90 days after receiving the certified copy of the order. After receiving the report, the Assam Government must examine the recommendations and take appropriate steps to implement them.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by Bikram Pathak and 608 other Community Health Professionals. These healthcare workers had completed the Diploma in Medicine and Rural Health Care (DMRHC) under the Assam Rural Health Regulatory Authority Act, 2004.
Later, after the 2004 Act was struck down, they were registered under the Assam Community Health Professionals (Registration and Competency) Act, 2015 and continued working under the National Health Mission.
Why Did the Professionals Approach the Court
The petitioners argued that after the 2015 law came into force, they were redesignated as Community Health Professionals, which affected their professional status. They requested the Court to protect the benefits they had earned under the earlier law and to ensure proper service conditions, promotions, and recognition.
Assam Community Health Professionals Cadre: Court Protects Earlier Benefits
The High Court observed that the Supreme Court’s 2023 judgment had already protected the rights and benefits earned by these professionals under the 2004 Act.
The Court said their diploma, training, experience, and professional status cannot simply be taken away because the law changed.
It also noted that changing their designation should not reduce their ability to provide healthcare services in rural areas.
Rural Healthcare Is a National Priority
The Court highlighted that nearly 62–63% of India’s population lives in rural areas, making trained healthcare workers extremely important. It said qualified Community Health Professionals should continue serving rural communities alongside doctors to strengthen healthcare services where medical resources are limited.
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