Hospitals under the civic bodies remained paralysed on Monday with doctors, paramedical staff on strike that entered into the sixth day.
As many as 50,000 employees working for the health sector of four major hospitals of civic agencies — including Bara Hindu Rao, Swami Dayanand, Kasturba and Rajan Babu Tuberculosis hospital — are on indefinite strike demanding the release of their due salaries for the past four months.
Only critically ill patients are getting consultation from the protesting doctors with others being turned down.
Posters and banners have been displayed all over to inform the patients about the strike. Speaking to The Pioneer, Dr RR Gautam of Hindu Rao Hospital, president of Municipal Corporation Doctors' Association, said, "All the doctors and medical staff of East and North Corporations participated in the protest at the civic centre on Monday and want that 4th Finance Commission to be implemented so as to get salaries on time."
It may be noted that if 4th Finance Commission is implemented then health and education sectors of the civic bodies will come under the domain of the Delhi Government.
Meanwhile, Dr Aditya, RDA President of Bara Hindu Rao Hospital said in the political blame game of the civic bodies and the Delhi Government, it is the employees that are suffering.
"For the past one year, we are facing the problem to get our salary on time. Every time, we doctors have to protest to get our payment. Now, we want final and concrete answer from the Government," said Dr Aditya.
Around 1.5 lakh MCD employees, including doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, technicians, sanitation workers and other class III and IV staff, who have not been paid salaries for up to three months, are on indefinite strike demanding the release of their salaries.