Payment of HPCA/PCA to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals

Payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA) to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

No. I/5(g)/Part V

Dated: 05/10/2015

The Secretary (E),

Railway Board,

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Ref: Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 dated 09/01/2008, 20/02/2013 & letter No. E(P&A)11-98/HW-6-Vol III dated 31/07/2015.

Federation desires to invite attention of the Railway Board to letter dated 09/01/2008 wherein the categories of staff eligible to receive payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA) were indicated. The rates of the HPCA/PCA were also enhanced by the Railway Board vide letter dated 20/02/2013.

2.Consequent to representations by the NFIR at Railway Board’s level through DC/JCM item no.34/99, the Railway Board have since issued instructions, covering the category of Dental Hygienists and Physiotherapists/Occupational therapists working in the Railway Hospitals and Health Units/Clinics for payment of HPCA & PCA.

3.The Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals whose duties involve continuous routine contacts with the patients and have risk of affecting with the communicable diseases on account of handling infected materials/instruments/ equipments and are prone to spreading infection while performing duties in the Health Care Delivery System, are not included in the list of categories for the purpose of entitlement of HPCA/PCA. It is most unfortunate that these staff are denied HPCA/PCA inspite of the fact that they should be made eligible by virtue of their service and responsibilities towards patients.

In this connection, Federation invites Board’s attention to the instructions issued by the Nodal Ministry i.e. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare vide O.M.No.Z.28015/24/2001-H dated 4th February 2004, wherein guidelines have been prescribed for payment of HPCA/PCA to various categories of employees working in the Government Hospitals. The conditions laid down by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare are fulfilled by the Kitchen Staff who work in Railway Hospitals in general equally Northern Railway Central Hospital for the purpose of payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance.

4.Federation also desires to state that Patient Care Allowance is paid to the Kitchen Staff working in the Government Hospitals in Delhi like Lady Harding Medical College Hospital & SMT S.K. Hospital as could be seen from the enclosed photo copies of the Pay Slips of the staff concerned. NFIR further desires to bring to the notice of Railway Board that the Kitchen Staff working in the Northern Railway Central Hospital, New Delhi had filed an OA No. 974/2013 which was decided on 2lst February 2014, operative portion of the order is reproduced below:-

“Being bound by the judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi (supra), I quash the impugned order. The applicants would be entitled to HPCA/PCA/Risk Allowance in terms of the letter dated 09/01/2008 ibid. Needful be done within a period of 3 months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. It is made clear that if the HPCA/PCA/Risk Allowance is withdrawn from the categories mentioned in the said letter, the same would be withdrawn from the applicants also. No costs.”

Thereafter a period of over 1 year has passed, instructions have not been issued by the Railway Bard so far.

5.Federation reiterates that the staff working in the Kitchens of Railway Hospitals (particularly the Northern Railway Central Hospital) have been performing duties in shifts to ‘prepare, serve breakfast, lunch, evening tea and the dinner to the patients admitted in the Hospital for treatment. Their duties also include cleaning of utensils and are always at risk to acquire communicable diseases.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to accord approval and issue instructions to the Zones/PUs for payment of HPCA/PCA to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.

Yours faithfully

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)

General Secretary