Medical services were hit at State-run health hub MGM Medical College and Hospital in Sakchi following strike by the outsourced paramedics and nurses in protest against poor salary by the outsourced firm.
According to information nearly 295 nurses, 70 paramedics and 15 pharmacists have joined hands to protest. They sat on a dharna near the entrance to the 540-bed hospital claiming that they have no choice but to go on strike.
The agitators threatened of an indefinite strike if their demands were not solved soon. “ We have been raising voice in favour of our demands. We will launch an indefinite agitation if our demands are not fulfilled,” said a nurse. She added that they were getting only Rs 9100 per month instead of the earlier payment of Rs 10,850 and they are not allowed to avail weekly off.
Significantly, Ranchi-based private firm Shiva Protection Force Private Limited was awarded the contract for MGM by the state health department in February this year after the previous firm (Advance Business Corporate Private Limited) contract was terminated for irregularities.
Meanwhile, patients continued to suffer due to strike. “I was admitted on Sunday and had my operation yesterday but there is only one nurse in the ward since morning. I have to rely on my family members to get my medicine,” said a patient.
Similar cases came from other patients too. “I have been suffering from high fever since the morning but there is no nurse in the ward to attend. It was only after my husband shouted at the doctor that a nurse arrived to give me medicine and also check my pressure and temperature,” said a resident of Baghbera.
The agitating staff claimed that they were forced to take this drastic step. “We had no choice but to take this step as our plea with the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner (Ravi Shanker Shukla), MGM superintendent (R. K Mandhan), health secretary (Nitin Madan Kulkarni) and even local MLA (Saryu Roy) has gone unheard so far. We are yet to get this month’s salary till today and this has been a regular feature.
We are not even paid for the gazette holidays and our PF, ESI are yet to be updated,” said Ajay Kumar, a paramedic who is leading the demonstration.
MGM superintendent, Dr R. K Mandhan admitted of problems in providing proper health services due to the strike.
