Health services take a hit as nurses’ stir enters 3rd day

PATIALA: As the ongoing strike by the nursing staff entered its third day, the employees continued their sit-in protest at the medical superintendent building of Rajendra Hospital here on Friday.

Amid all the agitation, the health services at the government hospital have taken a big hit and the authorities are facing hard time tending to the patients in absence of the nursing staff. For now, the authorities are seeking help from nursing students, but that won’t suffice, claimed a doctor.

The authorities tried to convince the protesters, but the latter claimed to join their duties only after getting the appointment letters of regularisation of service.

Meanwhile, the medical superintendent assured that the health services would resume in the next 24 hours. The health authorities also alleged that protesters on Thursday had locked the operation theatre and the same was opened on Friday morning with the help of police.

Dr Dharamvira Gandhi met the protesters and claimed that he had already raised the issue of the regularisation of the contractual staff. He said he empathised with the protesters, but it was on the state government to fulfil their demands.

The police officials and officials of fire department remained on their toes for the entire 3 days.

Karamjit Kaur Aulakh, President Punjab Contractual Nursing, and Ancillary Staff, said, “We will not join the duty until we get the regularisation letters and our protest will continue till our demands are met. The government fails to meet their promises made before elections.”