Balasore: Upset over lack of treatment facilities and absenteeism of doctors, some employees locked the ESI hospital at Samalpur here Wednesday.
According to reports, healthcare services at the hospital have been plagued by a host of problems, prominent among them being staff shortage. Two doctors are engaged in the hospital. It is alleged employees of private companies and other agencies have to face problems in getting treatment when doctors play truant most of the time.
According to reports, a group of employees from Birla Tyres and Modern Engineering College were in the hospital Wednesday for treatment, but they were angry to see the absence of doctors.
In protest, they locked the gate of the hospital. The employees stated that ESI hospital was function at two places earlier— one at Chhanapur near Kuruda and the other at ITI Chhak. Employees had to face a lot of commuting problems. The two doctors for their convenience merged the two entities at Samalpur where it is functioning from a rented house.
Doctors remain absent or come at their own will, the protesters alleged, adding medicines are not available here. “We have to pay eight per cent of our salaries towards treatment cost, but fail to get treatment,” they pointed out.
Stating that the present location of the ESI hospital is not convenient in view of communication, the protesters demanded shifting of the hospital at a suitable place where communication will not be a problem. PNN
