AIIMS had asked the nurses to reconsider their strike in light of the COVID-19 situation.
The nurses union AIIMS, which has started an indefinite strike, today blamed hospital authorities for the suffering of the patients. The striking nurses, in a statement this afternoon, said hospital authorities are putting patients at risk with their plans to hire contract nurses who are “unskilled and inexperienced,” who have been harassed by a video of neglected patients within a widely circulating hospital ward. .
Charging the hospital with “cruelty and negligent behavior,” the nurses union said the plan was “anti-labor” as contract employees always receive low wages.
“If they are really concerned about the patients, they could have called us to discuss or negotiate. A month has passed since we sent the strike notice, but we have not been called for any constructive discussion,” the statement read.
The Delhi High Court, however, ended the indefinite strike today and issued a notice to the nurses, as the hospital claimed that the strike is illegal. The next hearing is January 18.
The strike had begun yesterday by a list of 23 demands that was crowned by the revised salary in the Sixth Pay Committee.
The hospital had previously asked nurses to reconsider their strike plan in light of the COVID-19 situation. AIIMS is one of the key dedicated facilities for Covid.
“I am very proud of the AIIMS family for the tremendous work done during COVID-19 … the nation is proud. Unfortunately, at this time of pandemic, the nurses union has gone on strike,” said AIIMS Director , Prof Randeep Guleria had said in a video message to the Hospital Nurses Union.
Professor Guleria also said that the nurses had misinterpreted the rules of the Sixth Committee on Payments, but that the government was willing to consider their demands.
“However, it seems inappropriate that when a country is fighting a pandemic … the nurses union has decided to go on strike … I call on all of you to get back to work and really help us get ahead.” Said Professor Guleria.
Since yesterday, a video of a room at the main medical institution, showing patients with no one to treat them, has been widely circulated and many have pointed to the timing of the strike as unfortunate.
With health services under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, the Union Secretary of Health had cited an order from the Delhi High Court saying that there should be no interruption of nursing work at AIIMS.
Non-compliance will also be treated as a crime under India’s Disaster Management Act and Penal Code, the health secretary said, adding: “Action will be taken against non-compliant authorities and employees.”
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