An indefinite walkout by almost 3500 contractual workers sent the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, a premier healthcare institution, into disarray on Wednesday. Patient care services have been negatively disrupted by the widespread walkout of employees who are in charge of critical tasks including security, patient assistance, and cleanliness.
The strike ensued in the wake of the arrest of nine of their colleagues during a protest, promoting a demand for their immediate release. The strikegoers are also seeking fulfillment of promises made by the PGI administration, which includes regularisation of service and salary hikes. Despite assurances from PGI Director Dr. Vivek Lal these promises are still unfulfilled.
Consequently, there was a significant setback in inpatient treatment, particularly emergency and outpatient services, which made patients and residents more distressed. The doctors were spotted carrying essential supplies themselves, highlighting the dire strike on patient care. The most immediate hit was felt in the emergency ward and OPD (Outpatient Department), which sees a daily football of 12,000 patients.
The standoff between the administration and the striking workers underscores a deeper issue plaguing the healthcare system- the reliance on contractual staff. More than 60% of PGI’s workforce comprises contractual workers, whose indispensable role in cleaning, waste disposal, and patient support is now absent. Despite attempts to mitigate the crisis by the administrations, including urging service providers to arrange replacements, the situation remains dire.
Kamlesh Kaur, a patient from Jalandhar who arrived for arthritis treatment, narrated her experience” The long queues and lack of staff made it impossible for me to wait. Without proper registration, I had no choice but to return home untreated.”
Devraj Singh, General Secretary of the Joint Action Committee leading the strike, emphasized their demands, “Our top priority is the release of our arrested colleagues. Furthermore, we seek the implementation of promised service regularisation and salary hikes, We will continue striking until the administration addresses our concerns.”
As negotiations falter and tensions escalate, the impasse shows no signs of abating. The High Court’s orders, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services, are disregarded amidst the fervor of protests PGI’s commitment to patient care remains unwavering, with the institute striving to deliver exceptional healthcare services despite the constraints imposed by the strike.
