PIMS: Number of patients dwindles amid strike

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 20

Health services were badly hit in the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) even as the strike of staff members entered the ninth day today.

The stir is slowly acquiring political contours with the PIMS Employees Union inviting leaders of various political parties to address the agitating staff. Today, Independent MLA Simarjit Singh Bains addressed the gathering and took pot shots at the Capt Amarinder Singh-led government. He blamed the state government for all ills plaguing Punjab while assuring the staff that he would take up all their genuine demands in the Governor’s address in the Vidhan Sabha session slated to be held soon.

Even as there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel for striking employees, the number of patients has dwindled over the last few days. The most badly hit are OT, radiation, surgical, female medicine and dialysis departments. As compared to 500 patients who used to come for treatment before the stir commenced, just 100 turned up today.

The employees claimed that the pay scales were not commensurate with the staff of the Baba Farid University of Health and Sciences which should have been the case. “In the name of giving us increments, the management is giving us an increase of just Rs 400 to 500 annually. In 2007, the management had promised to increase salaries every year. However, till now there has been no increase. The HRA and bonus have not been given to us for the last two years. To compound matters, the staff members are overworked as no fresh recruitment is taking place. This translates into inefficient working with the result that patients are not being given proper treatment,” said a union leader.

The union claimed that no promotion had been given at any stage to clerical, technical and nursing staff. Union leaders warned that since doctors were not in full strength, there was every possibility that patients may suffer. “In the event of any mishap, the management, including the Resident Director, Medical Superintendent and Nursing Superintendent, will be held responsible,” said the union.