4 staffers +ve, Ludhiana docs allege gear of poor quality

Ludhiana, May 19

After four Class IV employees of the local Civil Hospital tested Covid positive, the entire staff of the hospital went on a strike today, alleging that the N-95 masks provided to them were of poor quality.

Earlier, the doctors had gone on strike over substandard PPE kits, but they had called it off after an assurance by the Civil Surgeon that they would be provided better quality gear. Dr Rohit Rampal said they had never refrained from performing their duty, but they wanted the department to ensure their safety. “The masks provided to us are of poor quality and it is possible that the four employees have got infected because of the substandard masks,” said Dr Rampal.

SAD demands probe

Chandigarh: The SAD has asked the Chief Minister to hold a high-level inquiry into the purchase of substandard PPE kits and N-95 masks. Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the government should not allow the lives of its frontline warriors to be endangered at any cost. TNS

The Class IV employees complained that they were working on meagre salaries, had no health insurance and even the protective gear provided to them was of low quality. “For a long time, we have been requesting the authorities for a pay hike, but to no avail. The government should think about our safety,” Dr Rampal said.

Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga said the protective gear provided to the staff was supplied by the government. He directed the officials to return the substandard masks immediately and assured the staff that they would be given better quality masks. The staff later called off the strike. — TNS