HYDERABAD: Osmania General Hospital Joint Action Committee members boycotted out-patient services and elective procedures for around an hour on Tuesday demanding construction of a new building for the hospital.As only a few doctors, nurses and medical staff participated in the protest, patients were not put to much inconvenience.
However, the JAC members are going to observe this form of strike everyday until their demand is met and the medical services at the tertiary hospital could be hit if more doctors and staffers join the protest. The OP services are offered for three hours every day from 9 am to noon.
“We will continue our strike until we get an assurance that a new building will be constructed within a stipulated time, and the necessary fund allocation should be announced. Boycotting emergency services will be our last resort,” said Dr R Pandu Naik, chairman of the OGH JAC. Until Monday, which was the 73rd day of their strike, they had limited their protest to standing before the in-patient building holding banners.
Dr Naik said he, along with other JAC members, submitted a representation to the chief minister on March 30, bringing to his notice the dilapidated condition of the IP Block which was built in 1910.On a few occasions, the plaster of Paris on the ceiling peeled off and fallen. Fortunately, no patient or doctor was injured. Sensing danger, the wards on the second floor of IP Block were shifted to other hospitals. Besides, some areas on the first floor were marked as ‘UZ’ and ‘UZ/X’, which are short for ‘Unsafe Zone’.