NOIDA: With the state government keeping the takeover of the
district hospital in abeyance and deciding to call off services of at least half of the contractual employees working at the hospital, reduced strength of workers is gravely affecting discharge of health services.
The state government’s decision came when the authority refused to bear the cost of running the hospital citing “lack of funds” and “expertise.”
TOI had reported on December 31 that the government had decided that only half of the total 110 contractual employees including operation theatre technicians, doctors, staff nurses, electricians, pharmacists and computer operators would remain deployed at the hospital for discharge of services while the rest faced termination.
However, the government had decided in February this year that it will not take over the hospital as of now and wait for the new building coming up in Sector 39 to be completed. It had asked the
Noida Authority to bear the expenses of the hospital till the takeover comes about.
However, the contractors who have supplied this manpower to the hospital after permission from the Authority have now started shunting these people out as the Authority stopped paying salaries to them.
In April beginning, the 10 electricians deployed at the hospital were asked by their contractor not to report for work.
As there was no one to monitor the system on Wednesday and Thursday, patients and attendants had to suffer for two days when the centralised air conditioning system tripped.
Patients and hospital employees had to park their vehicles in the dark on both these days as electricians were not available to switch on the lights for the parking premises.
“We have been working here since the beginning of the hospital but now we are being asked to leave. After the authorities realised that work was not happening, the
Chief medical superintendent (CMS) asked us to stay saying that we will be paid around Rs. 8000 for this month. We have been earning Rs 20,000 till now. How will we run our houses in Rs 8000,” said one of the contractual employees.
Similarly, 16 ward boys have also been asked to leave.
58 of the security guards deployed at the hospital have already been shunted out last year after the state government’s decision was announced.
On Saturday, a mini truck sent by the Noida Authority took old electronic equipment kept at the hospital’s store to the Sector 39 site where the new building is coming up.
This sparked a baseless rumour that Authority would soon remove the fans too.
The hospital authorities have denied that they offered lower salaries to the employees while the Noida Authority has refused to accept them as "their employees."
Manmohan Mishra, financial controller, Noida Authority said these employees were appointed by the district hospital and it was up to the Authority to decide on them. CMS Ajai Agrawal denied that he spoke to any employee about giving lower salaries but said these staffers were on the pay roll of the Authority and were employed at the hospital after its permission.
“I am in touch with Authority CEO and asked him to retain all the contractual employees as of now,” he said.
CEO Alok Tandon did not respond to queries.
Picture for representational purpose only.
