Nurses at Delhi civic body-run hospitals go on strike over recruitment, promotions

Nurses at the major municipal corporation-run hospitals in the national capital launched an indefinite strike today, causing inconvenience for the patients admitted at these facilities.

The striking nurses are demanding recruitment for filling of staff shortages and clearance of pending promotions.

Among the hospitals where nurses have gone on strike are the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital, Kasturba Hospital and Rajan Babu TB Hospital.

"We have raised these issues several times with the municipal corporation. Nurses have repeatedly requested the authorities concerned to look into these issues.

"The administration has not responded. We are launching an indefinite strike from today. Promotions for nurses who have been in the department for years are still pending. How can we continue to work under such conditions?" said Sushma Kumari, president, Delhi Nurses Union.

"Nurses from Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital, Kasturba Hospital and Rajan Babu TB Hospital have joined the strike," she added.

A senior nurse at Rajan Babu TB Hospital, said, "Patients are being inconvenienced; the administration should initiate negotiations to settle the issues. There is acute staff shortage and the administration should take stock of the situation."

Meanwhile, authorities said that more nurses have been pressed into service recently and the administration is looking into the demands of the nurses.