Shillong, Dec 8: NPP Meghalaya President and Rajya Sabha MP from Meghalaya, Dr. WR Kharlukhi on Wednesday raised the issue of health workers going on strike amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the Parliament.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, he said the health workers have been at the forefront during the Covid-19 pandemic and their efforts need to be acknowledged. He also stressed that the government should ensure that there is no lack of manpower to battle the pandemic, which isn’t over yet.

“Doctors, nurses and other health workers worked tirelessly during the second wave of Covid-19, where they stretched beyond their capacity in all respect… physically, mentally and emotionally and in the process, sadly, more than 1000 of these health professionals lost their livea. While the nation calls them warriors, it is truly heart wrenching to watch the same warriors who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic under the banner of Medical Association go on strike,” he said.

He informed that as of today, these warriors are doing duty for over 80 hours a week and working at the strength of 1/3 than the usual for more than 6 months.

“And now, simply because of the delay in counselling (they had to go on stoke)… they became our frontliners when the nation was battling the pandemic , therefore, I request the government to go ahead with need for counselling,” he suggested.

He further stressed that “we are at the time of pandemic, where we cannot afford to have shortage on anything, especially manpower to handle any situation that may arise.”