400 Class 4 employees of Government Rajindra hospital went on an indefinite strike on Friday, locking the hospital’s operation theatre (OT).
The employees are demanding job regularisation.
OPD and emergency services are functional. Due to the strike, patients are facing harassment and scheduled operations have been postponed.
“Hundreds of employees have been working on contractual basis for teh past ten years. We have held several meetings with the state government but to no avail. We demand regular jobs and have started an indefinite strike. The operation theatre services have been stopped but emergency services are open,” Ram Kishan, president of the Class 4 employees’ union, said.
15 operations of the orthopaedic department and 10 surgeries were scheduled for Friday.
Patients troubled
Many patients have been waiting outside the OT.
“My daughter has not eaten for the past three days because she had to come for her operation. But, now we were being told that the OT is locked. We have already purchased the required medicines and fulfilled all requirements for the operation,” Sunita, who came here from Rama Mandi, Bathinda, said.