Contractual paramedics and drivers of CATS go on strike

Around 240 contractual paramedics and 370 contractual drivers of CATS today went on a strike against the expression of interest floated by Delhi government to outsource the operation and maintenance of its CATS ambulance services.
Due to the strike, the number of the Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances on roads today were less even as the regular staff of CATS continued to function. Help was taken from Delhi police PCR van to continue the services.
Yesterday, discussions were held between the Director CATS and the contractual staff during which the later was assured that they would continue under the direct contract engagement of CATS. However, the employees demanded roll back of the expression of interest.

"CATS contractual staff will continue under the administrative control of CATS directly which is clearly mentioned in the expression of interest that has been floated. There is no way that they will lose their job," said N Vasantha Kumar, Director CATS.
The Health department on January 9 floated an expression of interest which said, "The Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS), an autonomous body of Delhi government, invites expression of interest from eligible bidders to shortlist them for issue of a request for proposal (RFP) for the further bidding process for selection of bidder for operation and maintenance of CATS ambulance services and Control Room."

Delhi government is also in the process of procuring 110 more CATS ambulances. At present there are 152 ambulances which includes 21 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, 10 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and 121 Patient Transporting ambulances (PTA).