Nearly 5,000 nurses at the AIIMS went on 'mass casual leave' on Friday, Lapras Copic hitting the functioning of the premier medical institute.
While 90 surgeries were postponed, several patients were forced to visit other hospitals in wake of the nurses’ strike, even as the AIIMS authorities likened the protest to “blackmailing and arm-twisting” of administration at the cost of poor patients.
No trauma surgeries were performed at the AIIMS trauma centre that has five operation theatres, as against 15 surgeries on normal days.
AIIMS Acting Director Balram Airan, who is also head of Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Centre said "We could not do any operation due to the protest. We somehow ran our Out Patient Departments. In my department, 16 operations had to be deferred."
"It is the nurses who take care of surgical equipment during surgeries. In their absence, it is simply impossible to perform operations, except laparoscopic surgical procedure," said a doctor at the Orthopaedic Department.
“Much like the doctors, we too are working long hours in extremely hazardous conditions. We are hurt by the second class treatment given to us by the government and Institute,” said a nurse, who is participating in the strike.
The nurses are protesting against the discrimination by the Seventh Pay Commission.
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