SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 22: A number of patients, who reached Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad in critical condition and for dialysis returned as the indefinite strike by the outsourcing health staff entered its fourth day today.
On Sunday night, three patients (two road accidents and one burn injury case) came to the emergency ward but they had to return as there was no dresser in the ward to conduct dressing. Senior residents on duty had been doing it for the last two days but they reportedly stopped doing from Saturday.
Patients in orthopaedics, surgery and gynaecology wards were also seen struggling due to the strike of ward boys.
The emergency ward had service of only one regular staff. A similar condition was in dialysis which has been stopped for the last three days due to the strike of outsourcing staff and listed routine dialysis patients have to return daily.
Over 428 outsourcing staff deployed in SNMMCH had been on strike since May 18 in protest against the order of the government to retrench 121 outsourcing staff working on non-sanctioned posts of the dresser, ward boys and anaesthesia assistants.
The state government had sent joint secretary Vidyanand Sharma ‘Pankaj’ to assess
the plight of patients and break the ice of the strike but he failed to settle the crisis. He made it clear that a retrenchment order would be implemented.
SNMMCH superintendent Dr AK Barnbal has gone on a three-day leave. Officiating superintendent Dr AK Singh said that the situation would improve from today after the names of retrenched staff are finalized.
“At present, there is confusion among striking outsourcing staff about names in the list of retrenchment. Those who are working on the sanctioned posts are likely to return to their duty this evening. So, the crisis in dialysis and emergency would be sorted out soon,” said the officiating superintendent.
Meanwhile on Monday, striking computer operating staff returned to their duty and OPD registration began in the morning.
