CATS workers call off strike on official's assurance

The contractual workers and ambulance drivers of the state government-run Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) Tuesday called off their strike following an assurance from Delhi Health Secretary S.C.L.A. Das to look into their demands.

The employees of CATS went on a strike after the Jan 9 health department order which invited bidders for operation and maintenance of the CATS ambulances and the control room.

"The Delhi secretary has assured during the meeting that he will look into the matter and try to solve our problems," Narendra Lakra, president of the CATS Working Association, told IANS after coming out of the meeting held at the Delhi secretariat.

He also said that CATS workers decided to return to work as they were concerned about the patients who required ambulance services.

According to a CATS source, the workers did not run any ambulances Monday despite receiving over 500 calls for their services. The decision led to the death of four patients and non-availability of ambulance services for the pregnant mothers and injured people.

CATS director Basant Kumar said that it was necessary for the workers to return to work or else he would have termination letters issued to all the striking workers.

The Delhi government is in the process of procuring 110 more CATS ambulances. At present, there are 152 ambulances - 21 advanced life support ambulances, 10 basic life support ambulances and 121 patient transporting ambulances.