Services remain hit at Patiala hospital

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 16

In what may be termed as an administrative failure and government apathy, the authorities at the Government Rajindra Hospital have failed to restore health services with the out patient department (OPD) and the operation theatre (OT) remaining closed for the fifth consecutive day.  

Demanding regularisation of services, nurses and Class IV employees had locked down the OT and OPD.  

They have been protesting for the past 10 days, impacting health services. 

The protesters did not open the OT and OPD during a two-day inspection by a four-member team from the Medical Council of India (MCI).  Medical Superintendent (MS) Rajan Singla, said, “We had requested the protesters to open the OPD and OT as poor patients visiting from faraway places were facing  harassment. They turned down our request.” “I have intimated the higher officials, including Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, about the situation. They are keeping an on the situation at the hospital.”

 Meanwhile, the protesters said they had locked down only the OPD and OT and emergency services were being run smoothly.   

Rajinder Singh, a Class IV employee, said, “We had no option other than shutting down the OPD and OT as the government failed to fulfil our demands.”