Chandigarh hospital technicians continue strike

March 16th, 2011 - 9:16 pm ICT by IANS  

Chandigarh, March 16 (IANS) Operation theatre technicians of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here continued their indefinite strike Wednesday, causing inconvenience to hundreds of patients.

The Operation Theatre Technical Staff Association went on strike Monday evening after some of their leaders got into an argument with a senior doctor.

“PGIMER administration is not at all interested in talking to us. They are very adamant. Today we went to meet them but nothing fruitful came out of the meeting. We would continue our strike,” association secretary Naresh Gautam told IANS Wednesday.

According to the association’s leaders, the head of anaesthesia department misbehaved with them when they had gone to meet her Monday evening.

“We are demanding a separate changing room and staff room for the last many months. But instead of listening to us, the doctor lost her temper and misbehaved with us. We want a written apology from her,” said Gautam.

According to PGIMER officials, around 50 surgeries were cancelled due to staff shortage Wednesday.

Tuesday too saw 40 surgeries being cancelled.

However, PGIMER authorities have termed the strike illegal.

“The strike is totally unwarranted and unjustified. The PGIMER administration has gone out of its way to ensure that the genuine grievances of the technicians are redressed expeditiously but this demand is totally illegal,” the hospital’s spokesperson said.

“Despite the difficulties faced by the administration, we have made arrangements with the help of faculty, resident doctors, nursing personnel and other categories of staff to ensure that essential medical services are not curtailed in any manner,” the spokesperson added.

The operation theatre staff last month went on three-day mass casual leave and observed a one-day strike, demanding a pay hike.

A few months back, the sweepers’ association too went on strike demanding release of their salaries.

PGIMER is one of the most reputed hospitals of the country and is visited by thousands of patients every day.

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