1,000 pharmacists at govt hospitals, dispensaries go on a day’s strike

NEW DELHI: Patients coming to Delhi government hospitals and dispensaries on Monday had to return without medicines as nearly 1,000 pharmacists went on a one-day strike.

In Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi government’s biggest hospital in central Delhi, all the medicine dispensing counters remained shut. “We came here early morning from Meerut, we both had to get our lungs checked. The doctor saw us, but said the medicines are not being given. So, we will just stay back in Delhi today and come back tomorrow morning,” said Irfan, 64, who had come to the hospital with his wife Munifa.

“Medicines could not be dispensed at all Delhi government hospitals, most dispensaries and mohalla clinics. We had to take the step because the government has been ignoring our demands for designation and salary for a long time,” said Bhupendra Kumar, president of the Delhi Pharmacists Employees Association. “They asked for some more time,” Kumar added. Nearly 50,000 patients are treated in the 34 hospitals and several dispensaries, polyclinics and mohalla clinics run by the Delhi government.

The pharmacists have been fighting to get designations befitting their years of service. “There isn’t any designation change for pharmacists in the government sector,” said Bhupendra Kumar, president of the Delhi Pharmacists Employees Association.