E-Paper
Protesting Class-4 staff lock OT at Rajindra hospital, patients suffer
Over 400 Class 4 employees of Government Rajindra Hospital, Dental College, Government Medical College, Ayurvedic College and TB Hospital went on an indefinite strike on Friday, locking the Rajindra hospital’s operation theatre (OT). Due to the strike, patients faced harassment and scheduled operations were postponed.
Over 400 Class 4 employees of Government Rajindra Hospital, Dental College, Government Medical College, Ayurvedic College and TB Hospital went on an indefinite strike on Friday, locking the Rajindra hospital’s operation theatre (OT). Due to the strike, patients faced harassment and scheduled operations were postponed.
On the second day of their strike, they locked the OT and demanded regularisation of jobs. After the assurance of a meeting with director, medical education and research, Dr Manjit Kaur Mohi, agitators opened the locks around 1PM. According to information 15 operations of the orthopaedic department and 10 surgeries were scheduled for Friday but only one case was operated upon.
“The condition of the operation theatre was filthy and we cleaned the OT, after that we started work but it look a lot of time and we did only one operation on Friday,” said a doctor.
Many patients had to wait outside the OT but to no avail. “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 of the operation,” Sunita, who came here from Rama Mandi, Bathinda, said.
“I had been waiting for operation for the past ten days, but today I was informed about the strike and it was very disappointing for me,” said Pargat Singh, who came from Mansa district.
Ram Kishan, president of the Class 4 employees’ union, said, “Hundreds of employees have been working on contractual basis for the 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.”
Meanwhile, principal, Government Medical College, Dr BL Bharadwaj, said, “I organised their meeting with the DRME and they opened the locks. The services in OT, ICU, ICCU and emergency are running smoothly.”
