NHM Employees and Regular Employees Should Not Be Treated Differently
Heramba Nath
The healthcare system of Assam stands on the unwavering commitment of thousands of dedicated professionals serving in government hospitals, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub-Centres, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and other public health institutions. Among them are both Regular Government Employees and National Health Mission (NHM) Employees. Although their service conditions differ, their common mission remains the same—to provide accessible, affordable, equitable, and quality healthcare to every citizen.
Every day, NHM employees and regular employees work side by side in the same health institutions. They attend to the same patients, implement the same national health programmes, participate in immunisation campaigns, maternal and child healthcare, disease surveillance, tuberculosis control, malaria elimination, non-communicable disease programmes, emergency healthcare, and various public health initiatives. They shoulder the same responsibilities, face the same challenges, and work tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of the people of Assam. Patients do not distinguish between a contractual employee and a permanent employee; they simply expect competent, compassionate, and timely healthcare.
Unfortunately, in some workplaces, an unhealthy distinction is still made between NHM employees and regular employees. Some individuals mistakenly consider themselves superior merely because they hold permanent government posts with pay-band scales, greater job security, pensionary benefits, and other service-related privileges. Such attitudes are neither ethical nor appropriate in a profession founded upon compassion, equality, dignity, and service to humanity. Differences in service conditions should never become grounds for disrespect, discrimination, workplace humiliation, or arrogance.
It is equally important to recognise the academic excellence and professional competence of many NHM employees. Across Assam, numerous NHM professionals possess outstanding educational qualifications and specialised expertise. Many hold postgraduate degrees such as M.Sc. in Microbiology, Zoology, Molecular Biology, Parasitology, Epidemiology, Home Science, as well as M.A., M.Com., MBA, MCA, M.Pharm., and Master of Medical Laboratory Technology (MMLT). Others possess professional qualifications such as B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, B.Pharm., B.Sc. in Optometry, B.Sc. in Dietetics, and Master of Physiotherapy (MPT). Many also hold Master’s degrees in Mass Communication, Master of Laws (LL.M.), and other specialised disciplines, while several have earned Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in their respective fields. Some NHM Medical Laboratory Technicians possess both MMLT and Ph.D. qualifications, reflecting exceptional academic achievement. In addition, several NHM professionals have qualified the prestigious UGC-NET (University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test), with some also being awarded the highly competitive Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF). Others possess advanced technical qualifications such as DOEACC (now NIELIT) ‘C’ Level. These highly qualified professionals have been selected through competitive recruitment processes and contribute specialised scientific knowledge, clinical expertise, technical skills, research capability, programme management expertise, legal knowledge, communication skills, and administrative competence to Assam’s public healthcare system. Their contractual status should never be interpreted as a reflection of their academic merit, professional ability, or dedication to public service. Employment status does not define intelligence, competence, integrity, or commitment. Every healthcare worker, whether serving under the National Health Mission or as a regular government employee, deserves equal dignity, mutual respect, and recognition for his or her valuable contribution to strengthening public healthcare.
Likewise, regular government employees have served society with dedication for decades. Their experience, institutional knowledge, leadership, and commitment remain invaluable assets to Assam’s healthcare system. They have played a vital role in strengthening public health services and ensuring continuity in healthcare delivery. Their contribution deserves equal appreciation and respect. This is not a question of one group being superior to another. Rather, both groups are indispensable partners working towards the same noble objective of serving the people.
Respect is never determined by salary, pay scale, designation, employment status, or service benefits. Genuine respect is earned through honesty, competence, discipline, humility, professionalism, dedication, and compassion. Every healthcare worker who sincerely performs his or her duties deserves equal dignity and appreciation.
NHM employees have made remarkable contributions to strengthening public healthcare in Assam. They have played a pivotal role in implementing national health programmes, improving immunisation coverage, supporting maternal and child healthcare, strengthening disease surveillance, controlling communicable and non-communicable diseases, promoting health awareness, expanding community outreach, and delivering essential healthcare services in rural, remote, riverine, tea garden, and other underserved areas. Their tireless efforts have significantly strengthened the State’s healthcare delivery system. Along with their commitment to healthcare delivery, many NHM professionals have also enriched the system through their diverse academic backgrounds, specialised technical expertise, research experience, communication skills, and professional excellence across multiple disciplines. Their contribution demonstrates that merit, competence, and dedication are not determined by employment status but by commitment to public service.
Similarly, regular government employees continue to provide stability, institutional continuity, administrative leadership, and experienced guidance within the healthcare system. Their long years of service have helped strengthen public health institutions across the State. Together, NHM employees and regular employees complement each other’s strengths and work collectively to ensure quality healthcare reaches every citizen.
Professional ethics require every employee to treat colleagues with courtesy, fairness, equality, and mutual respect. Humanity teaches us that every individual deserves dignity irrespective of employment status. No NHM employee should ever be made to feel inferior because of contractual service, and no regular employee should believe that permanent service benefits confer personal superiority. Professional relationships should always be built upon mutual respect rather than employment category.
A healthcare institution flourishes only when teamwork prevails. Mutual trust, cooperation, understanding, and respect create a healthy workplace, improve staff morale, enhance efficiency, and ultimately ensure better patient care. Discrimination, prejudice, workplace divisions, and arrogance weaken institutional harmony and undermine the true spirit of public service.
The time has come to move beyond labels such as “Regular” and “NHM.” Government policies may distinguish service conditions, but they should never divide colleagues. Every employee shares the same responsibility of serving humanity, protecting public health, and upholding the dignity of the healthcare profession.
NHM employees and regular employees should never be treated differently. They are colleagues, partners in public service, and fellow human beings united by a common purpose—to safeguard the health and well-being of the people. Together, they constitute the backbone of Assam’s public healthcare system. Every employee, irrespective of employment status, deserves equal dignity, respect, and professional recognition. Government policies may distinguish service conditions, but they should never create divisions among colleagues. Let every health institution foster a culture of equality, teamwork, professionalism, and mutual respect, where merit, competence, integrity, and dedication are valued above labels. When NHM employees and regular employees work together in harmony, with shared purpose and mutual appreciation, the greatest beneficiaries will always be the patients, the healthcare system, and the people of Assam.