PGI suspends elective surgeries and new OPD registrations amid ongoing outsourced employees strike

Hospitals in Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh have been instructed not to send patients to PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) for the time being. This comes as outsourced workers continue their strike, leading PGIMER to restrict outpatient department (OPD) services to follow-up patients only on Monday from 8 am to 10 am.

No new registrations will be allowed, and existing online registrations will be canceled. However, scheduled chemotherapy treatments will still take place as planned. Elective admissions and surgeries are postponed, with patients being informed in advance.

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PGIMER limits services amid outsourced workers’ strike

The strike, now in its fourth day, is severely affecting hospital operations. While OPD services are suspended, emergency, trauma, and ICU services remain operational. The workers are demanding unpaid wages for hospital attendants. A ₹46-crore budget was approved by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in April 2024 to settle arrears for various contractual staff, including kitchen workers and security guards. Although these workers were paid in January 2024, hospital attendants did not receive their dues, which has led to frustration and the ongoing strike.

Union leaders had warned the hospital administration that action would be taken if the payments were not made by October 10. PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal acknowledged the workers' concerns and the importance of their roles in patient care. He emphasized that patient safety is a priority and that the hospital is open to discussions to resolve the issue.

Prof. Lal also praised voluntary organizations such as Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra, Nawan Nagar, Sukh Foundation, and student volunteers for their help in maintaining patient care during this difficult time. The outsourced employees perform various essential tasks, including cleaning, laundry, moving patients, and managing supplies, ensuring that hospital operations continue as smoothly as possible despite the strike.