BHOPAL: Health services, especially emergency call services were badly affected due to strike of 108 Ambulance staff. Demanding same work same pay, the staffers went on an indefinite strike from Wednesday. National Health Mission has prepared alternative arrangements to avoid any untoward situation.
President of 108 Workers’ Association Ram Parmar alleged Ziqitza Healthcare, the company which had taken the contract to run the 108 services was not operating properly. He alleged it was not providing medicines and oxygen cylinders in proper amount to the ambulances. He claimed due to insufficient healthcare equipments people were dying despite full effort of the paramedical staff. Not only this, the company was blacklisted in Rajasthan and in MP it had taken the contract hiding the fact.
“The company is taking work for over 12 hours but paying very less and also they are paying one month salary in the next month,” he added. Due to the strike, 606 ambulances are off duty and around 3,000 workers have stopped work. They are staging demonstration in front of the company’s office near the TB Hospital here.
NHM managing director V Kiran Gopal informed Free Press that the department was prepared to face the situation. “The call centre is providing services; the department drivers are being used to run the vehicles,” he said.
Compounders and ward boys have been deputed on duty and more importantly the Janani Express is also integrated to transport any emergency patients to the referral hospital. “The talks between the staff and the government are open; the district administration of Bhopal has met the agitating staff. All channels are open to settle the issue,” he added.
