ANMs Demand Reduced Workload, Protest Against Digital Reporting Burden

Rapid Summary

• Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) in the Health department are protesting against excessive digital reporting workloads, which involve operating around 14 mobile applications alongside their field duties.
• The protest took place in Hyderabad on Monday under the banner of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
• ANMs demand that the government withdraw these apps and ease their workload.
• M. Narasimha, AITUC State deputy general secretary, stated that online reporting has expanded substantially from 1-2 apps as its introduction in 2016 to handling numerous platforms like U-WIN, NCD, MCH-KIT, IDSP, TB Mukt Bharat, and Sickle Cell apps now.
• Reporting requirements include filling out 20 to 30 columns per app. Some tasks-like recording data for one patient using the NCD app-take up to 30 minutes each.
• This is compounded by screening targets for up to 35% of the population while ANMs’ original roles focused on rural health monitoring, vaccination management, preventive care measures, and health awareness programs.

indian Opinion Analysis

The protest by Auxiliary Nurse Midwives underscores a critical operational challenge within India’s healthcare system-the balance between customary fieldwork and evolving digital integration. While digitization aims to provide better tracking and efficiency in healthcare delivery, overburdening frontline workers with extensive administrative duties could dilute their primary focus on community health initiatives. Ensuring proper implementation of technological interventions without hindering productivity or morale is crucial.For policymakers and stakeholders involved in public health systems modernization efforts across India: refining workflows and reducing redundancies within existing digital tools may circumvent such challenges while serving broader objectives like population-scale data collection. Engaging directly with healthcare professionals at all levels will likely help address these growing concerns effectively.

Read more at The Hindu