Since dissemination of life saving drugs did not take place in the Government-run district hospitals and health centres, the plight of all those patients who visited hospitals was increased manifold.
The agitators cleared that they will withdraw their agitation only after their year long pending demands would be fulfilled by the State Government. All those patients who visited Government hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres, first referral units and health centres were unable to receive the life saving drugs despite the fact they were diagnosed by the medical officers on Thursday due to the ongoing agitation by the agitated pharmacists under the banner of Uttarakhand Diploma Pharmacists Association (UDPA).
After raising the anti-Government slogans, the agitators cleared that they will withdraw their agitation only after their year long pending demands of association would be fulfilled by the State Government.
The seriously ill patients were forced to visit private chemist shops and long serpent queue was easily noticeable at chemist shops adjoining government Doon Hospital.
The agitators cleared that they will also register their protest if the hospital administration distributes life saving drugs and syrups through other means other than trained and experienced pharmacists.
The agitators said that they have been catering the medical and health need of all those villagers who are living in the mountainous parts of Uttarakhand in the absence of the medical officers since the formation of the State in 2000 and also expressed antipathy over the issue that meeting with State Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi ended without reaching to any fruitful conclusion.
After expressing his antipathy over the callous approach of the state government for not fulfilling the year long pending demands of Association, former state president, BS Payal, UDPA said that memorandum was given many times to top bureaucrats and higher department officials but steps are yet to be taken by the State Government to fulfill the pending demands of association.
“Pay anomaly, risk allowances, appointment of pharmacists, issue of seniority list, service rule, timely promotion etc. are the pending demands of Association,” he said, adding that the agitated pharmacists are in a mood of decisive show and will withdraw their agitation only after year long demands would be fulfilled by the State Government.
Payal said that various posts have been lying vacant in the Government hospitals in all the 13 districts of the State but steps are still awaited by the Government for fulfilling the vacant posts.