Patient Care Set To Turn Normal At SCBMCH In Cuttack As House Surgeons End Strike

Cuttack: Healthcare services are likely to become normal at SCB Medical College and Hospital at Odisha’s Cuttack city as the tussle between the striking house surgeons and protesting nursing staff was reportedly resolved on Wednesday.

Over 250 house surgeons of the premier hospital had launched an indefinite strike after a face-off with nursing staff of the facility. Similarly, the nursing staff were also staging a protest wearing black badges following dispute with the house surgeons.

According to sources, the house surgeons agreed to withdraw their strike following talks with hospital authorities.

While house surgeons have agreed to resume normal duty from Thursday, the nursing staff also put an end to their protest as the dispute was reportedly resolved after the hospital officials held talks with the protesters.

Following instruction by the Health department, SCB officials and Commissioner of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) held a meeting with the representatives of house surgeons and nursing staff to arrive at a settlement.

Notably, house surgeons of the hospital had gone on strike alleging that members of the nursing staff misbehaved with them and refused to cooperate during work. Demanding action against the nursing staff, they also sought public apology from them for alleged ill-treatment.

The striking house surgeons, who had staged a demonstration on Tuesday over the issue, also demanded that a proper standard operating procedure (SOP) be laid down regarding work in the premier hospital.

On the other hand, the nursing staff also made similar allegations against the house surgeons and started wearing black badges.

The nurses, who had also staged a protest on Tuesday, had also threatened to launch cases-work agitation from July 24, if the authorities fail to take immediate steps to resolve the issue.

Healthcare services in the hospital were affected to some extent because of agitation by the house surgeons and nursing staff. The situation will become normal from Thursday following withdrawal of protests, a senior official said.