Patients return disappointed from Govt Rajindra Hospital

Ravneet Singh

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 13

The work at Government Rajindra Hospital remained suspended as more than 300 nurses and auxiliary staff members of the hospital boycotted duty during the evening and night shifts today. The staff have been protesting to demand regularisation of jobs.

The Rajindra hospital has 282 contractual nurses and 35 auxiliary staff comprising health inspectors, medical social workers, computer operators and others working here since 2011. 

The protesters said the jobs of the staff were to be regularised after three years of their service, but it was not done by the government.

Because of the protest since morning, patients were a harried lot. Many had to go back as they came to know about it only on reaching the hospital.

Saksham, son of a patient in the emergency ward, said, “I have come here with my father, but the employees are protesting. The hospital should ensure that the work continues without hindrance.” 

A patient said, “Only students are dealing with patients. Who will be responsible if they commit mistakes without proper guidance from seniors?”

BS Brar, medical superintendent at the hospital, said, “We have made arrangements at all wards in the hospital and have posted 586 students to tackle all situations during the afternoon, evening and night shifts.”

Karamjeet Aulakh, president of the Nurses and Ancillary Staff Union, said, “We held a meeting with Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Medical Education, at the mini-secretariat today. He assured that our jobs would be regularised soon as the matter would be taken up during the budget session this month.”

Aulakh said the staff would stop all work from April 1 if the government did not initiate steps to regularise their jobs.

BS Sidhu, principal of Government Rajindra College, said, “The protesting staff have been assured regularisation of their jobs in the next financial year.”