Over 1,000 patients suffer as JMCH staff nurses stage protest

 FROM A CORRESPONDENT

JORHAT, Feb 14: Over 1,000 patients suffered at lot at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH) on Tuesday after more than 370 staff nurses staged a strike at the hospital premises for about three hours from 9.30 am.

 More than 370 staff nurses took up the agitation against the government for non-payment of salary since November, 2016. JMCH sources said on Tuesday that 103 patients were admitted at the hospital and 932 patients came to the hospital’s Out Patient Department (OPD) during the strike hours.

 The nurses staged dhar in front of the medical college from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm in protest against government’s failure to pay their monthly salary from November, 2016. They also issued ultimatum to the government to ensure payment of pending salary within February 20 and threatened to take up serious agitation if the government failed to fulfil this demand.

A staff nurse said, “We have not got salary since November last year. In spite of repeated requests, the government has failed to make payment due to some unknown reason for which we are facing serious hardship. We have no altertive other than to take up rigorous agitation unless our demand is fulfilled within the stipulated period.”

 JMCH authorities said that they had talked with the government and the government assured them to pay salary to the nurses on February 18.