The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) health centres and private hospitals have taken steps to ensure that healthcare services will not affected by Bharat Bandh on Thursday. Considering most of the Class IV employees like staff nurses, peons, ayahs, pourakarmikas depend on public transport to get to work, the BBMP officials are making alternative arrangements for them.
Dr Devaki Umesh, health officer, BBMP, says, “Health workers, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM) and lab technicians who reside in quarters will not have difficulties to come to work. But for others who have no means, back up arrangements have to be made.”
The Health Department plans to depute workers from one health centre to others to deal with emergencies.
“The staff are expected to get to the hospital. But in case there is poor attendance in some areas, we will arrange for staff from other centres,” said Anjum Parwez, Health Commissioner. “Emergency services will not be impacted. The 108 ambulances will run.”
Private Hospitals make Special Arrangements Private hospitals in the city have planned to pick up employees who do not have personal or alternate means of transportation.
Lakshminarayana P S, social welfare officer, M S Ramaiah Hospital, said the hospital will pick up employees who do not have personal means of transport. “We will ensure that the services will not impacted by the Bandh. During BMTC Bandh, we sent vans to pick up our employees. If needed, we will make same arrangements for Thursday.”
In another hospital staff will stay in the hospital on Wednesday night. Jeremy D’Souza, GM, Columbia Asia Hospitals said that arrangements for a night stay have already been made to accommodate fifty additional staff in addition to those on regular night shifts.