Gurgaon: Civil Hospital doctors, technicians go on mass leave, patients suffer

Non-contractual government doctors and laboratory technicians went on a mass leave on Monday affecting the services at the Civil Hospital that has been receiving over 300 patients with symptoms of dengue and chikungunya daily.

Non-contractual government doctors and laboratory technicians went on a mass leave on Monday affecting the services at the Civil Hospital that has been receiving over 300 patients with symptoms of dengue and chikungunya daily.

The agitating doctors and technicians want the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association to act on their pending demands which include an increase in the percentage of non-practicing allowance and the withdrawal of the state government’s proposal to raise retirement age from 60 to 65 years (HT File Photo)

The agitating doctors and technicians wanted the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association to act on their pending demands which include an increase in the percentage of non-practicing allowance and the withdrawal of the state government’s proposal to raise retirement age from 60 to 65 years. These demands have been under consideration for the last seven years.

Patients bore the brunt of the stir as the blood diagnosis which takes 4-5 days was further delayed. “Authorities advised me to visit private hospitals or laboratories as they were short on laboratory technicians due to the strike. They only had a few contractual staff members that were already burdened with extra work. I have no other choice but to pay extra and wait for results from a private hospital,” Bimala Kataria, a resident of sector 15 said.

However, the health department officials claimed that requisite arrangements were in place to manage the situation. “Notification of any strike or mass leave was not received. Although, contractual staffs were working, they were placed at the laboratories and causality section accordingly,” Pushpa Bishnoi, Chief Medical Officer said.

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