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| Medical services cripple in GMC Jammu | | | KUNAL SHRIVATSA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 12: If anybody visits Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), normal functioning of which has been hit badly due to the on going strike of the employees since March 9, the words 'pathetic' and 'chaotic' come out impromptu from one's mouth .
Even though emergency facilities are running smoothly, the healthcare system in GMC&H is turning from bad to worse with each passing day as the Para-medic and other support staff has joined the pen down/ tool down strike call given by Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) and Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) besides other state government employees' organizations.
The normal working in Out-Patient's Department (OPD) remained affected for the fourth consecutive day due to which there was no let up in hardships being faced by hundreds of patients as well as their attendants, who come to GMC&H for getting specialized treatment.
When this scribe visited GMC&H, he observed that the clueless patients were running hither-thither at OPD in a hope to get the requisite slip for a medical check-up but to their utter dismay there was no staff to entertain them.
Vijay Kumar, resident of Bani area in Kathua district has been admitted in Sri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital, Shalamar Road for the last seven days.
According to his father Rattan Lal, the four years old kid is suspected to have some heart ailment and the doctors attending on him advised to get the child checked-up at GMC&H as they said his disease could be a major one.
"I brought my son here for medical check-up and took him straightway to Emergency wing where the Casualty Medical Officer (CMO) on duty prescribed an X-Ray but the concerned staff who have to do the job asked me to come on Monday saying that they are on strike." said Rattan Lal, a labourer by profession adding that " It is quite difficult for a person like me, who has a meager source of income, to stay in Jammu for a longer period of duration and spending two-three more days here is almost impossible."
Almost going through the same pain and agony, a couple from Shakti Nagar locality of city is making rounds of GMC&H, OPD for the last four days to have a check-up of their son named Samanit Sharma,5, whose left leg received a major fracture while playing.
But the on going stir of hospital staff has left Jugal Kishore and his wife Vijay Kumari high and dry.
Narrating her tale of woes to Early Times with tears rolling down on her cheeks, Vijay Kumari said, "The delay in medical check-up of my son is giving sleepless nights to us since his broken leg could not go through the necessary examination for want of OPD slip which is not being issued by the concerned staff due to their agitation."
If the situation at OPD is chaotic, the condition of some of the wards and adjoining corridors is in disarray as filth as well as waste food material was lying scattered on floors thus making possible chances of spreading dreaded germs and bacteria in already 'unhygienic' hospital.
The unsanitary condition of hospital could be gauged from the fact that stink was emanating from wretched Ward Number 4 (Surgery) which was virtually not suitable for patients who were being given treatment.
Meanwhile, various employees' associations held protest demonstrations and took out rallies at GMC&H.
Hundreds of employees including Paramedics and other support staff under the banner of EJAC led by their President Pardeep Kumar staged a dharna in front of OPD block while the other faction of JCC led by their president Rupinder took out a rally and held protest demonstration.
A large number of All J&K Estates Employees Association (Jammu Province) activists also reached the spot and joined their health department counterparts' dharna.
Shouting slogans against government, the employees lamented authorities for adopting dilly-dallying tactics in conceding their demands.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the earlier demand of the state government employees for the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations were fulfilled last year, while the employees had been demanding the release of arrears thereof.
The employees began their five-day strike on March 9 in support of their demands for releasing the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and other demands, including revision in retirement age from 58 to 60 years and regularisation of daily wagers and contractual employees.
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