"Health workers deployed at Covid-19 frontline deprived of their allowances", 7 June 2020

Health workers deployed on the frontline in the battle against Covid-19 haven’t received their allowances, even four months after the government announced that extra pay for them.

Health workers, who have been working on the frontline facing a host of of challenges, including discrimination and stigma, were supposed to receive allowances equivalent to their salaries, as per an announcement by the Ministry of Health and Population. The government’s failure to pay health workers, some of whom have even contracted the disease, their allowances adds more stress, they say.

...The allowance money is crucial for many health workers who have been forced to put up in hotels and guest houses after their neighbours and landlords pressed them to do so fearing that they will spread the infection.

...The Ministry of Health has already spent billions of rupees procuring test kits, personal protective equipment, ventilators, beds, equipment for intensive care units and isolation wards for the treatment of infected people. While a lot of money is also being spent on awareness programmes, the government hasn’t paid health workers their allowances.

...Meanwhile, the situation is even worse for doctors, nurses and other staffers at private health facilities. While some have been forced to quit their jobs due to pressure from their house owners, others are taking cuts on their pay...