Paramedical staff on hunger strike in Mewat hospital after nurse’s death

The staff have demanded action against the doctors of the hospital, who they say were not available to attend to her

The paramedical staff at the Mewat’s Shaheed Hasan Medical College and Hospital are on an indefinite hunger strike after a nurse died allegedly due to post-delivery complications.

The paramedical staff of Mewat’s Shaheed Hasan Medical College and Hospital have been on strike for two days.

The employees have demanded action against doctors of the hospital, located in Nalhar in Mewat district.

The paramedical staff claimed that no surgeon or doctor was available to attend to her. As a result Pramila Yadav, 35, who delivered a baby girl, died.

The strike began two days ago, and as the government has not yet fulfilled their demands, the staff started an indefinite hunger strike on Thursday.

The protesters are demanding action against the four doctors, Rs 2 crore as compensation for the victim’s family and a government job for the victim’s daughter when she turns 18 — she is now 14.

“We are going to protest till we get justice for Yadav. The government has to listen to us. We will not talk to the district administration anymore,” said Omvir Kadiyan, a paramedical staff.

Although Yadav had a normal delivery, complications developed later and the two junior doctors who were attending to her were unable to carry out a surgery that was needed to save her life, said Rajender, a paramedical staff.

The hospital authority tried to negotiate with the protesters and said action will be taken against doctors if they are found guilty.

“We have assured them of an impartial investigation in the incident and we are trying to consider their demands,” said Dr Sansar Chand Sharma, director, Shaheed Hasan Medical College and Hospital.

An FIR has been lodged against the four doctors in the incident and the protesters were also given a choice about where they wanted the autopsy done, he said.

Manoj Kumar, subdivisional magistrate, said the administration has forwarded the protesters’ demands to the Haryana government. “We are in talks with the paramedical staff and trying to convince them to end the strike. However, we haven’t succeeded so far,” Kumar said.