Staff strike hits Chandigarh medical institute
By IANSThursday, February 3, 2011
CHANDIGARH - Health services, including surgeries, at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) were hit by a three-day strike launched by operation theatres’ technical staff here Thursday, demanding a pay hike. The institute has termed the strike as illegal.
Everyday around 300 surgeries are conducted at the PGIMER but on Thursday only minor surgeries were performed with the help of nurses. The disruption put patients and their attendants to inconvenience.
The agitating staff have deployed 10 of their colleagues for emergencies.
“The issue of increasing the salaries of operation theatre technicians is pending for the last many months. Therefore, we have decided to go on three-day mass casual leave,” said Manoj Kumar, secretary of Operation Theatre Technical Staff Association.
However, 10 technicians would be available for the emergency services, he said.
A PGIMER official said: “We have already forwarded this matter to the union health ministry so there is no point in going on strike. We have made alternative arrangements to avoid harassment to the public. We are taking the help of nurses to perform surgeries.”
PGIMER is also hosting its 31st convocation Friday. Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav will be the chief guest during this function.
