Mon Jun 02 17:53:02 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Community Health Officers (CHOs) in Andhra Pradesh, who recently ended a strike, are facing delays in receiving their salaries and have appealed to the state government for immediate action. These CHOs, who manage vital Village Health Clinics, are responsible for providing essential healthcare services to rural populations. They have been demanding payment of pending incentives, a pay raise, regularization of services, and resumption of PF contributions. Despite assurances of a meeting with the Health Minister, their salaries for the past two months remain unpaid, causing financial hardship and hindering their ability to operate the clinics effectively. The CHOs are also frustrated by the government’s perceived lack of recognition for their contributions, including participation in surveys and screenings for various diseases.

**News Article:**

**Andhra Pradesh CHOs Demand Immediate Salary Release After Month-Long Strike**

**VIJAYAWADA, June 2, 2025** – Community Health Officers (CHOs) in Andhra Pradesh are urging the state government to release their salaries immediately following a month-long strike that ended on May 26th. The CHOs, who staff the state’s 10,000 Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs or Village Health Clinics, are essential for providing healthcare services to rural populations.

Following their return to work after assurances of a meeting with Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav, the CHOs have yet to receive their salaries for the past two months. These clinics cater to populations of 3,000 to 5,000 people, each staffed by a CHO, an ANM, and two to three ASHAs. The CHOs provide much-needed medical care to rural communities and are authorized to prescribe over 100 types of drugs and conduct over a dozen different tests.

“From the meagre salary of ₹25,000 that we receive, we run both our homes and the clinics,” said Sandeep, president of the Andhra Pradesh Midlevel Health Provider/Community Health Officers’ Association. “If the salaries are not credited on time, it becomes extremely difficult for us to run the clinic.”

The CHOs had been on strike demanding the payment of pending incentives, a pay increase of ₹25,000, regularization of services for those who have completed six years, and the resumption of Provident Fund contributions.

Mr. Sandeep also expressed frustration with the government’s perception of their workload, emphasizing their participation in surveys and screenings for non-communicable diseases and cancers. He highlighted that over 4,000 clinics operate in rented buildings, adding another financial burden to the already strained resources of the CHOs. The Andhra Pradesh Midlevel Health Provider/Community Health Officers’ Association hopes that the government schedules the promised meeting to address the ongoing issues.

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