Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 17: There is no end to the woes of patients, who are suffering badly for last 9 days due to pen/tool down strike being observed by the Health employees in all Government health institutions across Jammu province.
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.
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.
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 employees continued protest at district and sub district hospitals today demanding immediate release of one and half year’s salary to them. 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.