The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Health services thrown out of gear in general hospital

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 29, 2004

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Other States - Pondicherry

Health services thrown out of gear in general hospital

By Our Staff Reporter

The outpatient wing and special care centre in the Pondicherry government hospital were closed following `mass casual leave' by employees on Monday. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY, JUNE 28. Health services at the Government General (Headquarters) Hospital here were thrown out of gear today as employees went on `mass casual leave' in response to a call given by their union.

The employees squatted opposite the hospital, raising slogans in support of their demands. Traffic was diverted on alternative routes.

An official source told The Hindu that the outpatient wing in the hospital was closed and patients from outside Pondicherry were treated at the casualty wing. Services were available round-the-clock at the casualty ward.

The Health Department arranged for JIPMER (administered by the Central government) to attend to serious cases. Patients who could not get treatment in the General Hospital voluntarily moved to private hospitals. The Health Minister, E. Valsaraj, was away in Mahe, his hometown.

The source said the hospital did not schedule any operations for today, since they were aware of the protest.

The Director of Health and Family Welfare Services reviewed the situation with the Medical Superintendents of the General and Maternity hospitals.

The authorities made it clear the maternity hospital could function as usual, as the patients' drugs requirement for drugs was minimal.

The authorities ensured that the critical care departments such as the Intensive Care Unit and the Trauma Intensive Care Unit were functioning by utilising interns and other staff.

The employees were protesting the decision of the health authorities to use doctors from private hospitals to run primary health centres in the afternoons. They also demanded immediate filling of vacant posts, claiming that a shortage of hands had added to the workload. The employees also wanted the school of nursing to be revived.

A spokesman of the confederation said the employees were on mass leave only for today.

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