Ceasework by staff in Balangir hospital hits health services

Balangir: Paramedical staff and nurses at the Santha Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital (SBBMCH) in Balangir stopped working for four hours on Monday to demand the immediate arrest of the people accused of attacking hospital staff on June 26.

The agitating staff began their protest at 8 am and continued it till noon.

They stopped all work in between, disrupting healthcare and inconveniencing patients. Many counters and wards were empty and essential services like Niramaya (medicine distribution), outpatient treatment and the dressing section were paralyzed.

“I came to the hospital to get someone to check a pain in the knee. I got neither medicines nor an X-Ray because of the strike. Many patients had come to the hospital from far-flung places and they faced a harrowing time,” said Prameswar Nanda, a patient.

Sabita Sahu, a protesting nurse, said no staff was feeling safe after the June 26 incident. “On that day, on-duty nurses and paramedical staff of the Intensive Care Unit were beaten up by the relatives of a patient who died,” she explained.

“We are demanding the immediate arrest of the accused, the deployment of sufficient security personnel in the hospital and round-the-clock police patrolling within the campus. If we don’t feel safe, how will we work?” she asked.

Lalit Meher, dean of SBBMCH, said the agitating staffs had been assured that four of the six accused would be arrested within a week. Two have already been arrested. “Security will be increased in the hospital. The staff agreed to call off the strike and returned to work at noon,” he said.

Srimanta Barik, SDPO (Balangir), said the two arrested men had been sent to judicial custody. “The others will be arrested soon,” he said. “We are facing a problem in identifying the accused because they attacked in a group,” he added.

The protesters said they would resume their stir if the accused were not arrested within seven days.