LUCKNOW: Work boycott by healthcare staff, which gave a tough time to patients at government hospitals for the second consecutive day on Saturday, was suspended in the evening following assurance by the officials that their demands would be considered sympathetically.
Earlier, all medical services, barring emergency, were affected from 8am to 10am in 12 district hospitals and 52 urban and rural community/primary healthcare centres due to the boycott by over1,000 healthcare workers in protest of the new transfer policy announced by the state government. Patients had a tough time in the morning as OPD ticket counters remained closed for two hours.
Many patients who came for pathology and diagnostic tests had to return while others had to stand in queues for hours.
Chikitsa Swasthya Mahasangh, a federation of eight healthcare associations, announced suspension of the proposed boycott and gherao of the health directorate on Monday.
“We met the additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Awasthi, who assured us that our demands will be considered sympathetically. We have also been given time to meet the health minister,” said general secretary of the Mahasangh, Ashok Kumar.
