Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: There is no end to the woes of patients, as health services remained paralyzed on 12th consecutive day in all health institutions across Jammu province due to pen/tool down strike being observed by the Health employees.
The Health employees are observing complete pen/tool strike since June 8 in support of Female Multipurpose Health Workers (FMPHWs), who are staging district wise dharnas for last over one month, for getting their pending salaries and permanent solution of salary issue.
A complete shutdown like situation prevailed in hospitals of Jammu Division while emergency services remain unaffected. Most of the revenue generating counters including OPD registration counters remained closed. Health services at Government Hospitals at Gandhi Nagar and Sarwal and other major/minor health institutions in the Division remained paralyzed.
The diagnostic services like ultrasound and X-ray also remain paralyzed. Routine surgeries were cancelled and most of the patients continued to be turned away from the hospitals. However, Gynae surgeries were being conducted and other emergency services were running smoothly in all the hospitals.
The Health employees of various cadre including Ministerial Staff, X-Ray Technicians, Pharmacists, Dental Technicians, Ophthalmic Technicians, Basic Health Workers, Lab Technicians, OT Technicians, Drivers and Cleaners (SHTO), Class-IV employees and NHM employees are participating in the strike.
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The main protest of FMPHWs held at Madam Shashi Bala Memorial Park in Jammu, wherein addressing the protesting workers, JKMEF president, Sushil Sudan, extended their full support to them. He assured them that JKMEF and all its affiliated associations would fight for the cause of FMPHWs till they get justice.
Neelam Kumari, general secretary, FMPHWs’ Association, while addressing the protesting female health workers, said that they will continue their protest dharnas till their demands are fulfilled or any concrete solution is found.
Meanwhile, FMPHWs continued protest at district and sub district hospitals today demanding immediate release of one and half year’s salary to them.
In Kathua, the Female Multipurpose Health Workers took out a protest rally from District Hospital to DC office. They raised slogans against the Government and Health Minister. The paramedical staff shun all routine work in District and Sub District Hospitals and other minor health institutions in Kathua and Samba districts while OPD services were being run independently by doctors.
In Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts, a complete pen down strike was observed by female multipurpose workers and other health employees in district and other hospitals but emergency services were kept out of the purview of strike.
In Reasi district, health employees from various blocks like Pouni, Katra, Mahore and Arnas gathered at Janana Park and then took out a protest rally under the leadership of Abdul Hamied Bhat, (JKMEF district president) up to Bhimgarh Fort after passing through old Bazaar, Chowk Chabutra, Ganesh Mandir Chowk. The protesters then staged dharna on road near Bhimgarh Fort and disrupted the vehicular movement for about half an hour. The health services also remained affected in all major/minor health institutions of the district. However, OPD services and emergency services were being run by the doctors.
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