Bhubaneswar: Distressed over the unending protest of the nurses at the capital city, National Health Mission (NHM) Director Shalini Pandit today gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the agitating nurses to resume their duties. The nurses today refused to call off their stir even after their union secretary urged them to postpone it for two months.
Pandit also stated that stern action would be taken against the violators as per law if they do not abide by the decision of the secretary.
Earlier today, the SCB nursing students were called for a discussion at the Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack to normalise patient care and other medical services. However, the agitating contractual nurses there allegedly prevented the students to even meet the hospital superintendent.
Meanwhile, the agitation at the lower PMG in Bhubaneswar has entered the sixth day.
The protesters said they would continue the stir till they get a written assurance from Health Minister Pratap Jena as they are not satisfied with the verbal assurance.
The contractual staff nurses have been on an indefinite protest since December 18 demanding regularisation of their service and hike in salary. Thousands of nurses have staged demonstration before district hospitals while their state-level body has been staging agitation in the state capital.
As a result, healthcare services have been hit in Cuttack’s SCB Medical College and Hospital, while at Burla based VSS Medical College and Hospital and MKCG Hospital in Berhampur, the nurses have been on cease work stir.