Lucknow: Patients suffer as staff stir cripples services at King George’s Medical University – ET HealthWorld

Lucknow: Healthcare services, including OPD, diagnostics, surgeries and clerical work, at King George’s Medical University were hit after around 3,500 permanent non-teaching staff went on an indefinite strike from Tuesday.

The strike call was given by the Employees’ Council to protest delay in cadre restructuring and wages at par with their counterparts in SGPGIMS. Several patients had to return without consultation, lab tests or admission. There was also a decline of 50-75% in OPD registrations (76%), new admissions (53%) and laboratory testing (56%). However, the medical university claimed no surgeries were affected. Patients and attendants, who started gathering at New OPD building and lab counters from 8 am , were in for a shock when employees blocked their entry.

Radhika Awasthi, 36, from Gorakhpur, who came for an eye surgery, said: “I had to wait for three hours but staff didn’t give me OPD ticket to consult doctors. I have excruciating pain but due to strike, I am helpless.”

Mahmoodabad resident Phool Mati, 45, who is admitted at Gandhi ward, was sent to OPD in an ambulance by doctors for clearance from anesthesia for surgery but could not get the same because of the strike. Vice-president of the EC, KP Srivastava, said the responsibility of trouble to patients is upon the KGMU administration. KGMU VC Lt Gen (retd) prof Bipin Puri urged permanent employees to get back to work as their demands have been conveyed to medical education ministry.