Members of various associations of doctors, paramedical staff, sanitary workers and pharmacists working at Government Rajaji Hospital organised a protest meeting on the hospital premises here on Monday demanding the setting up of an exclusive canteen for the staff.
Stating that while works had earlier commenced on establishing a cafeteria at the space allotted for ward 90 in the hospital, the staff said that it had come to a standstill without any justification made by the Public Works Department. The space was originally meant for the establishment of an artificial limb centre which was later shifted to the new block of the hospital near the Orthopaedics Department.
“There has been a needless delay with regard to providing us with a cafeteria. While there is a private canteen functioning on the premises, the quality of food and hygiene levels there are very low. The Medical Council of India’s regulations state that a cafeteria is an absolute necessity for staff like us who clock in many hours of duty,” said K. Senthil, State president of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association.
“There are over 2,000 staff members and a 1,000 students at the hospital and it is imperative to have such a facility,” he added.
The staff further said that despite them having formed a cooperative society to help with the functioning of the cafeteria on the lines of the canteen in the Secretariat at Chennai, no progress had taken place.
One-hour strike
They have planned to go on a one-hour strike, stopping all work, except attending cases of life-threatening emergencies, on Tuesday afternoon to press for their demands.
