Health services remained badly disrupted in the Government hospitals across the region as pharmacists went on strike for 72 hours from Thursday in protest against their long pending demands.
Whereas the agitating pharmacists have threatened to intensify their agitation from November 10 in case the State Government continues to ignore their long pending demands, patients had to experience a tough time as except emergency services all other health services remained disrupted in the Government hospitals due to the pharmacists’ agitation.
Here in Haldwani the health services at the main base hospital and mahila hospital were reported to be adversely affected due to the pharmacists’ strike. Over 1000 patients visit the base hospital and about 500 patients come to the mahila hospital here to get treatment through OPD services every day, as the officials concerned inform.
But as the OPD services could not be run as usual today on account of the aforesaid agitation of the pharmacists, so a huge number of patients could not get treatment in these premier Government hospitals.
Among others the patients who had come to get treatment from distant areas were the worst affected as they could not get treatment due to this agitation.
This is our 72 hours strike. If the Government does not listen to our long pending demands, we would be compelled to intensify our agitation from November 10, asserted J C Pathak, secretary of the diploma pharmacist association, kumaon division, while talking to The Pioneer. Some of the main long pending demands of the agitating pharmacists are revision of their pay scale, restructuring of the department to name a few, as the agitating pharmacists said.
We have been taking up these long pending issues with the Government for a long time. But nothing has been done so far to address these long pending concerns except giving assurances, Pathak allegedly said.