Health services remain hit at Rajindra Hospital

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 12

Health services at the Government Rajindra Hospital remained crippled due to the protest by contractual nurses and Class IV employees. 

The OPD and operation theatre (OT) of the hospital remained closed throughout the day. Following the shutdown of the OT Complex by the protesters, more than 40 general operations had to be postponed. Gurmel Singh (71), a patient from Barnala, said, “I am here for the operation of my left knee, but the doctors could not operate upon it due to the closure of the OT.” 

Another patient, Harnek Singh, said, “This is inhumane. Patients are suffering because of the protest. If they have any issue with the government, then they should lock down offices of the authorities concerend.”

The protesters claimed that they had no option other than closing down the OPD and OTs. Sandeep Kaur Barnala, chairman, Punjab Nursing and Ancillary Staff Union, said, “For the past five days, we have been protesting atop the hospital building, but the authorities did not listen to us.” In the evening, as a precautionary measure, Fire department officials cordoned off the entire building with plastic nets to avoid any untoward incident.