Asif Iqbal

Srinagar, July 20 : The paramedical staff of seven hospitals here under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation on Monday started two-day hunger strike to press for their demands, particularly regularization of their services.

Reports reaching said that hunger strike was held in Government Medical College Park and patient care was badly hit in the associated hospitals of GMC. 

As per officials, even vital sections of these hospitals are being run by class-IV employees despite the fact they are not qualified people to do the job of technologists, pharmacists etc and put the lives of people at risk.

Similarly in other cadres like nursing, pharmacy, general laboratories, radiology etc patient care was hit, they said.

“Out of around 87 people in the Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, almost 80 people are working on academic arrangement basis and only 7 are confirmed and due to this large number of surgical procedures have been delayed as Anesthesia Department is the backbone of these hospitals,” sources said.  

Some officials in the department confirmed that it was a matter of serious concern that these hospitals are run on adhocism. 

A senior leader of the Federation told GNS that thousands of paramedics of GMC and associated hospitals who were appointed since 2011 under SRO 384 on academic arrangements are working tirelessly without any break since then. 

He said the federation decided to go on two-day hunger strike for regularization of services.

“We decided to go on strike against the government’s indifference to address our genuine demands which include framing of regularization policy,” he said adding that most of the employees are over aged now and cannot apply for fresh posts if referred to SSRB.

“These hospitals like LD which is lone maternity hospital, SMHS hospital, GB Panth hospital, Chest Disease hospital and Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla are important part of the Valley’s healthcare. The government should our genuine demands sans any further delay,” he said.

The demands of the protesting staff include regularization of the academic arrangement employees who have not been regularized even after nine years of service; regularization of HDF and SDF hospital staff; repealing of SRO-384/409; and enhancement of salary of HDF and SDF staff.

The federation has warned that if state administration failed to meet their demands until July 23, they will intensify the stir and the entire responsibility shall lie on the administration.  (GNS)

New Hospital Building Construction Put on Hold for Safety Audit; ‘Govt Forces Occupy Building’: DGM JKPCC   

Srinagar, July 22 : Doctors and other medical staff on Monday observed a day-long strike at Maternity hospital Anantnag over the alleged ‘manhandling’ of hospital staff at the hands of protesters following the death of a pregnant woman allegedly due to negligence of the doctors .

Reports reaching said that the staff held a protest demonstration in the hospital premises, seeking immediate redressal of their grievances, besides asked Principal Government College Anantnag to recommend security cover for them.

When contacted, Principal Government College Anantnag, Dr. Showkat Jeelani told GNS that he has taken the issue into consideration and measures are in the offing. “Our staff in MCH Anantnag is working under most stressful conditions in the hospital given the paucity of staff, medicines and space in the hospital,” he said, adding, “People need to understand our limitations before resorting to any action that puts the life of staff at risk and hospital property at stake.”

The principal said he has received a memorandum from the staff for security cover and “I will recommend it to the government for the safety of our staff.”

The Principal expressed his disapproval over the vandalizing and thrashing of hospital staff at the hands of some locals and said: “It is highly unfortunate that our medical staff was manhandled by some people and if the things go like this who will work in the hospital.”

Meanwhile, requesting the people not to take law in their hands, the GMC head said: “I urge the people to restrain themselves from assaulting hospital staff and damaging the property.”

Admitting the fact the patients are suffering due to lack of space in the hospital, he said that the space in the hospital is very less with so much of patient flow on a daily basis and they are working in tandem with the authorities to make the under construction Rehmat-e-Alam unit functional as soon as possible.”

Rehmat-e-Alam complex is proposed to be a 4-floor structure. Ground floor and First floor have been constructed by the Trust itself which is a private body. “Half of the 2nd floor was constructed by JK housing board, balance 2nd and 3rd floor have been raised by JKPCC,” Director General Manager JKPCC M Hussain Dar told.

Recently, he said, advisor K Vijay Kumar directed health department to seek safety audit of the already constructed part from DIQC department till then funds have been put on hold. “Currently security forces have occupied it,” he said. Against cost of RS 12.10 cr, he said only Rs 3.21 stand released up-to-date.

Meanwhile, assuring that action will be taken against any negligence from the hospital staff, Principal said: “I assure you that if any of our doctors is found negligent he would be taken to task.”  

Pertinently people are aghast over the alleged negligence of hospital staff which according to them led to the death of a pregnant woman few days ago. (GNS)