UT health staff call off sit-in-stir after CM’s intervention

PUDUCHERRY: The three-day sit-in strike by the Puducherry state Unified Health employees of all categories (Group A, B & C) action committee was called off on Saturday evening.

This came after the action committee representatives discussing with Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, following which cases under ten different sections, including non-bailable sections, were registered against the police inspector.

It may be noted that the police inspector Shanmughasundaram and his relatives allegedly entered into an argument with the doctor and nurse on duty three days back following the death of his 80-year-old father in the hospital. He also snatched away the doctor’s cell phone.

Following this, the employees began a sit-in strike affecting the

functioning of the hospitals.

The Inspector also snatched away the doctor’s cell phone. Following this, the employees

began a sit-in-strike affecting the functioning of the hospital.

On a complaint from Medical Superintendent Dr.Vasudevan, police registered cases under six different sections. However, all the sections were bailable and the police officer could come out on bail. Demanding that case be registered under the recent act passed, to provide five years’ imprisonment if a doctor on duty was assaulted, against the police inspector and he be arrested, the health staff intensified their agitation.

The OPD in the GGH remained closed and only the COVID ward and emergency is being managed. The same situation prevailed in all other regions of the UT.

While, all other services remained suspended, COVID ward is being taken care of by the nurses and doctors wearing black badges. Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao had convened a meeting to take stock of the situation besides taking appropriate action.