108 ambulance staff go on strike, health services to cripple

Bhubaneswar: Healthcare services in many parts of Odisha likely to be get affected as the employees of 108 ambulance services go on a strike from Friday midnight demanding better and timely payment.

According to reports, the drivers of 108 ambulance, emergency medical technicians and attendants across the state have gone for an indefinite ceasework demanding fulfilment of their demands.

Manoj Kumar Sahoo, secretary of 108 Ambulance Service Workers' Association, said, “Ziqitza Health Care Ltd, the private organization that operates the 108 service, is not paying us regularly. Until we get our regularly, we will continue our protest.”

Smarak Mohapatra, worker of 108 ambulance service, said, “The company has promised to provide the salary by 10 December. Six days have been passed but we are yet to receive our salary.”