India, March 29 -- Thousands of contractual healthcare workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) haven't been paid in two months. These delays are sparking fears that essential medical services could soon be disrupted.

In Maharashtra, there are 42,000 contractual NHM staff, including 2,855 contractual staff in Pune district. The staff includes doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmaceutical officers and community medical officers amongst other technical and non-technical staff.

All staff members of the NMH Contractual Officers and Staff Association stated that the issue has been there for the past 16 months.

Harshal Ranavre, state coordinator, informed that salaries for over three months were pending and salary for only o...