Doda, Sept. 12 -- Healthcare services in Bhalessa and adjoining areas have been affected after NHM employees launched a fresh 72-hour pen-down strike on Saturday, just a day after their previous 72-hour strike ended.

With NHM staff staying away from regular duties, patients and their families are facing difficulties in accessing healthcare services. The strike has also put additional pressure on the available permanent staff and health facilities in the area.

Block Medical Officer (BMO) Gandoh said the health department was managing the situation by deploying available staff and cancelling leaves, except maternity and medical leave. Field staff have also been assigned duties at hospitals by temporarily putting some of their regular fiel...