Imphal, May 07 2009: Alleging administrative callousness by authorities concerned in addressing problems endured by nurses of RIMS Hospital, the medical staff have threatened to launch agitation from May 12 onwards.

Interacting with newspersons at the Infection control Room of the hospital this afternoon, secretary of Trained Nurses' Association of India H Tampha Devi criticised RIMS authorities of allegedly turning a blind eye to the working condition of the staff nurses.

Contrary to numerous structural development of RIMS Hospital after the medical centre had been upgraded to the status of AIMS (New delhi) the fact that nurses in the same hospital had been facing multiple inconveniences is yet to be realised by the RIMS authorities, she observed.

The secretary also expressed that the hospital requires strength of over 1000 nurses to cater to need of the patient contrary to which there are only 442 at the juncture at the ratio of two nurse for every 45 patients in a single ward.

Contending that existing norms entails one nurse for every three patients in a general ward, Tampha Devi further highlighted that nurses on duty have to be on their toes throughout the duty hour.

Further disclosing that RIMS Hospital has no stock of emergency medicines including 'dexona' injection that could atleast prolong survival of patients in critical conditions, she noted that on an alarming rate attendants of patients who scurry to purchase life-saving drugs from pharmacies return only to watch their near and dear ones pass away.

Tampha Devi further highlighted that 'materzine' and 'syntocinon' injections that are supposed to be well stocked for patients at the Gyanae Ward are far from satisfactory in terms of quantity.

Inspite of the inadequate injection stock available at the ward, the attending doctors reluctant to administer the same owing to apprehension they might be sub-standard consequently leading to the patient party asked to purchase the emergency injection of other company.

Opining that stocks of medicines and injections considered essential and for usage in emergency situation such as IV fluid, dexona, avil, adrenaline, astropen, peripherine, sodium carbonate etc need to be made easily accessible and ensured prompt availability, she noted that misunderstandings frequently crops up between the nurse on duty and the patient parties with the latter even accusing the nurse of being partial in the treatment of the patients.

Cautioning that stocks of life-saving injections such as Bethedine and morphine available in the hospital have lapsed usage duration (expired), she also said many other emergency drugs in the hospital also beyond the specified period of usage.

Questioning what compulsion, if any, had been preventing hospital authorities from supplying usable medicines, she demanded that access to laboratory test be facilitated in a transparent manner.

Pointing out other inadequacies in the hospital, she contended that nurses have to deal with shortage of glove in the Minor Operation Theatre while the patient parties are asked to arrange on their own cost plaster, bandages etc.

For every 1000 bed there should be provision for 4000 bedsheets as per prescribed regulation whereas a ward with 45 beds in the RIMS Hospital had to cope with only about 30 bed-sheets, she maintained.

With reference to the mentioned inadequacies, the secretary said amid such short-comings the nurses have been carrying out their respective tasks with diligence.

In addition to the existing problems and unsuitable working condition, and contrary to the recent implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission for other section of staff in the RIMS Hospital, grade pay of nursing cadres are yet to be extended in the hospital nor is there provision of the mandatory eight month uniform allowance and the revised nursing allowance implemented, she added.

Tampha Devi also recounted that a memorandum containing 17 charter of demands had been submitted through the TNAI, (Manipur branch) RIMS Unit to the Director RIMS on April 2 followed by another reminder on May 3 for a positive response.

However, with the representation failing to evoke any positive response from the side of the RIMS authorities the nurses resorted to black badge agitation since May 4 and will now take recourse to ceasework strike from may 12, she cautioned.

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