SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 13: Rather than resorting to a strike, the senior residents of Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad would demonstrate at Ranchi for salary payment which is pending since July 2022.
Senior residents, who are considered the backbone of hospital service, held a silent demonstration at the hospital entrance gate and announced that they are compelled to go to Ranchi for a demonstration before the state health department headquarters as, despite repeated reminders from the hospital management, their salaries have not been paid for last three months.
After the demonstration, a delegation of senior residents met hospital superintendent Dr Arun Kumar Baranwal and requested him to ensure payment as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the hospital management official sources said that two reminders have already been sent to the state headquarters for allotment of salary payment but no response has come so far.
Notably, the payment to senior residents at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical Hospital (MGMMCH) Jamshedpur was also cleared only after they went on the agitation path in September.
“We have no intention to do anything that could create an uncomfortable situation for the patients at the hospital. We just want to make the health department’s senior authority aware of the problem being faced by us in the lack of three months’ pending payment. Since the state health department authorities have not taken cognizance of our problem, we have resolved to demonstrate at Ranchi to draw their attention,” said the senior residents of SNMMCH to media persons.
They rued that Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Health Arun Kumar Singh inspected the hospital on September 29 and pointed out several deficiencies in services but did not take cognizance of the dedication of senior residents who are overloaded with work due to a shortage of doctors and perform duties for 16-18 hours so that patients do not suffer.
“Our Durga Puja festival passed in penury but we would not allow Diwali to go the similar way. So, we would initiate all possible steps to ensure pending salary’s payment,” said senior residents.
Notably, the senior residents had sent the request letter to Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Arun Kumar Singh twice before Durga Puja but did not get any response.
