CUTTACK: The 108 emergency ambulance service, which has become a lifeline for people requiring urgent medical care, was thrown out of gear across major parts of the State as staff manning the vehicles went on an indefinite strike on Thursday.
More than 130 ambulances went off the road in around 14 districts as drivers, pharmacists and assistants joined the stir over a 12-point charter of demands, mainly hike in salary and timely payments as well as provisioning other benefits.
The agitating staff have demanded immediate raise in salaries and payment of over time (OT) for working beyond what they termed as stipulated duty hours. They alleged that the drivers, pharmacists and helpers were paid measly salaries in the range of `4,700 to `6,700 while in States like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat, their counterparts were paid more than double the salary here.
“We are providing emergency services, mostly amid hostile situations and work on 12-hour shifts instead of the eight-hour shift mandated by the Labour Law. We have, thus, demanded payment of OT which is our legitimate right,” a spokesperson for the agitating staff said.
They have also demanded proper repair and maintenance of vehicles. In the absence of regular maintenance, the two-and-half-year-old vehicles are beginning to suffer breakdown not only affecting the turnaround targets, but also leading to attacks on the staff due to delay in reaching the needy.
There are 420 ambulances deployed in the State with each having one driver, pharmacist-technician and helper.
The operating agency Ziqita Healthcare Limited (ZHL) sources said negotiations with the striking staff are on and would be resolved soon. “Staff in three districts have already agreed to join duty and we expect to persuade others to follow suit,” head of ZHL, Odisha Sabyasachi Biswal said.
Meanwhile, in view of the crisis, the State Health department has put all district health authorities on alert and asked them to keep the Government ambulances in state of readiness. They are being pressed to service to transport emergency cases to hospitals.