Delhi govt hospital staff to go on strike

Patients across Delhi government hospitals are set to face a tough time, as group C and D employees, nurses, paramedical staff and contractual workers will strike work for 24 hours next Tuesday and for 48 hours from September 24. The employees will, however, provide manpower for the emergency services.

The decision follows a three-day 9-am-to-11-am symbolic strike by the aggrieved employees of the Lok Nayak Hospital that ended on Friday. Their list of 16 demands includes 25 per cent patient care allowance (PCA), filling of empty posts at the hospital and permanent jobs for employees hired on contract basis.

On Friday, around 2,500 employees, under the banner of the Delhi State Health Employees Joint Action Committee (DSHEJAC), marched from the Maulana Azad Medical College towards Delhi Secretariat to give their list of demands to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

 “Police halted our march near ITO, and only some of the leaders were allowed to visit the secretariat. Though we were unable to meet the chief minister, her office assured us that she would look into our concerns,” said DSHEJAC general secretary Raghuvinder Singh.

But the assurances were not enough for the employees, who have now given an ultimatum. “If we do not get a written order by Monday evening, the government will be responsible for paralysis of services on Tuesday,” he said. Members of the committee said the strike on Tuesday would be a warning of what the government could expect during the two-day strike.

In case they stick to their decision, all departments except the emergency wards are set to suffer.  While services would continue to be provided by doctors, none of the laboratory tests, including X-rays and ECG tests, would be conducted. Services at the operation theatres would be paralysed too.

“Even cooking for patients and cleaning of the hospitals will not take place,” said Ashok Singh, a core-committee member.