On Friday, the health services were hit at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) as the nurses started their protest against work overload, unfilled vacancies and pending salary for the last six months. 

The 220-bed hospital was unable to function properly due to an acute shortage of health staff. At present only 17 nurses were working against 50 sanctioned posts and 34 doctors against 62 sanctioned posts in the DHH. The remaining posts have been vacant for more than a year. 

Out of 224 sanctioned doctor posts, 87 were lying vacant in government hospitals across the Kendrapara district. Due to shortage, the current nursing staff had to work overtime; moreover, their salaries have been pending for the last 6 months. The nurses complained that they had requested for recruiting nurses for the 33 vacancies, but still, nothing was done. They were forced to overwork with no leaves or weekly off.

The chief district medical officer (CDMO) Anita Patnaik said, that they were planning to engage some nurses from the community health centres at the DHH and had informed the concerned authorities about the vacancies. The pending salaries would also be released soon.

Source: The New Indian Express