Directorate of Information & Publicity 
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI
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Dated 03/9/2016
- Delhi government reviews situation arising out of indefinite strike call given by All India Government Nurses Federation being supported by Delhi Nurses Federation.
- Chief Secretary Mr KK Sharma takes stock of the situation.
- The names of absenting nursing staff are being taken and FIRs would be lodged against them if they fail to report for duty.
- Action will be taken against them under ESMA which involves arrest & detention with the likely consequences of termination of services.
- Medical Superintendents of all Delhi Govt. Hospitals would hold walk in interview for engaging nurses on daily wages with effect from Monday 05th September.
- Health Deptt. issues Pubic notice asking striking staff to resume duty immediately
Delhi government today reviewed the situation arising out of the indefinite strike call given by the All India Government Nurses Federation which is being supported by Delhi Nurses Federation.
Chief Secretary Mr KK Sharma took stock of the situation on the second day of this nationwide strike, and held a meeting with the Principal Secretary (Home), Commissioner of Police and Health Department officials with regards to the position in Delhi government hospitals.
During the review meeting, he was informed that Secretary, Health visited major Hospitals of Delhi Government, accompanied by senior medical officers, to take stock of the situation. During the meeting Medical Superintends reported that there is much rush of patients in the fever clinics and the OPDs, on account of the upsurge in dengue and chikunguniya cases. Medical services in the fever clinics and the OPDs are being managed only with contractual nursing staff. However, patient care in the wards is affected. In respect of operations, while emergency surgeries are being carried out with the aid of interns and student nurses, scheduled surgeries had to postponed.
Further he was informed that the hospitals are short of nursing staff. The major hospitals are having only one third of the strength. The situation has become critical on account of the strike call given by the All India Government Nurses Federation , that is being supported by the Delhi Nurses Federation.
The Chief Secretary was given to understand that in order to deal with the situation, the Lt. Governor of Delhi has already issued notification invoking the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act for the next six months, and declared the strike illegal. The names of absenting nursing staff are being taken and FIRs would be lodged against them if they fail to report for duty. Action will be taken against them under ESMA, which involves arrest and detention with the likely consequence of termination of services.
The Department of Health has issued a public notice asking striking staff to resume duties immediately, informing all concerned that continued absence from work would invite penal prosecution including arrest and detention with service related consequences.
The Chief Secretary was informed that the two members of the Nurses’ Union have already been arrested, according to a press release given by the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Delhi. GNCTD has arranged a meeting between the representatives of Delhi Nurses Federation and the Nursing Adviser of Ministry of Health, Govt. of India.
To deal with the crisis for demand of nursing in patient care, arisen due to the strike, the Medical Superintendents of all Delhi Government Hospitals would be holding walk-in interviews for engaging nurses on daily wages with effect from Monday, the 5th of September, 2016.
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