Sanitation goes for a toss at PGI Emergency

The ongoing strike by hospital and sanitation attendants has taken a toll on sanitation at Emergency and Advanced Trauma Centre in the PGI. On Friday night, regular hospital attendants were asked to do 12-hour shifts (6 am to 6 pm and 6 pm to 6 am) to fill in for the protesting contractual workers.

However, this makeshift arrangement led to smooth operations at the administrative level, but there was not much improvement in sanitation at the PGI Emergency building. The toilets were not fit to be used by any person, let alone patients, who should be safeguarded from any infection during their treatment. The dustbins were overflowing and the heaps of wet and dry waste were lying in corridors.

The Advanced Trauma Centre was badly stinking. For day like Dasehra, when OPDs are closed, if it’s impossible to manage cleanliness and hygiene in Emergency, then the situation might be unmanageable in the coming weekdays.

According to sources, there was also a shortage of food, as bearers had joined the protesting workers. Only “khicidi” and “dal” were served in the Emergency in the afternoon.

Medical Superintendent and Head of Department of Hospital Administration Vipin Koushal said the administration was ready to have a discussion with the protesting workers, but they also should understand that it’s not the “hospital administration” but upon the “Ministry of Health and Family Welfare” to release funds to clear the pending arrears. He said, “We seek public cooperation amid the strike. We will need all help from volunteers and non-profit organisations during this challenging period.”

OPD services curtailed

A spokesperson for the PGI said, “In continuation of the ongoing strike by outsourced hospital attendants, sanitary attendants and bearers at the PGI, a comprehensive contingency plan has been implemented to manage essential services. While Emergency, Trauma, and ICU services will continue as usual, OPD services will be limited to only follow-up patients’ registrations from 8 am to 10 am on Monday. No new patient registrations will be done and online registrations, those already made, stand cancelled. Scheduled chemotherapy in the day care unit will continue as planned.” Additionally, the institute will continue to suspend elective admissions and elective surgeries until further notice.

Hospitals across the city and neighbouring states are requested not to refer new patients to the PGI.

Candle march on Dasehra

On Dasehra evening, the contractual workers, led by Vikramjit Singh, president, All-Contract Workers Union; Rajesh Chauhan, president, Hospital Attendants Union; and Rinku Bhagat, president, Sanitation Attendants Union, led a peaceful candlelight march till the flag post in front of the Director’s office. The Director, Dr Vivek Lal, has not met the protesting workers yet.