Imphal, Aug 28: Consequent upon the cease work strike launched by the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), RIMS Unit from today, service at the hospital was severely affected.

The Casualty and Emergency Department and the operation theatre were shut down from 1 pm today which forced many patients and their attendants to shift to other hospitals.

The nurses' organisation has been demanding regularisation of the existing nursing staff instead of appointing another 55 nurses on contract basis.

In addition, their other demands include preferential treatment of the existing nursing staff in the appointment of two public health nurses, to effect transfer of staff nurses and officers without nepotism and favouritism, repairing of septic tanks, rationalisation of pay anomaly, opening of separate counter for in-patients and disclosure of GPF amount to the nurses (holders) on annual basis.

Following the strike of the nurses, doctors and medical officers in the 800 bedded hospital with 30 departments have been forced to do the jobs of nurses such as injection, cleansing of instruments, bandaging etc themselves.

On the other hand, during an impromptu press meet, RIMS Director Dr Fimate while appealing to the striking nurses to suspend their stir in the interest of the public particularly the patients, maintained that many of the demands raised by TNAI RIMS Unit were unjustified.

He informed that nursing institutes run by the State Government have been requested to send their trained nurses so that the service and normal functioning of RIMS is not affected due to the nurses' cease work stir.

Dr Fimate also warned the contract basis nurses against joining the stir.

He said that the RIMS authority would consider appointment of new nurses in place of the existing 153 contract basis nurses in case they are found supporting the stir.

The RIMS authority has been urging the North Eastern Council (NEC) to comply with their demands and in response NEC has considered and implemented the demands which it found genuine, conveyed the Director.

Although concerned with the demand for regularisation of the nurses and the matter was put in the main agenda of NEC meeting, RIMS authority are unable to fulfil the demand as the statute book clearly prohibits such regularisation, he disclosed.

Concerning the disclosure of GPF account, he informed that the GPF account statement for 2002-03 has been prepared while those of 2003-04 and 2005-06 are expected within the next few months as computerization for the same is being done in full swing.

Dr Fimate asserted that the RR being applied by RIMS for the proposed appointment of two public health nurses is in total conformity with the national level rules.

At present 404 nurses including 190 staff nurses, 153 contract basis nurses, 53 sisters and 8 officers are serving at RIMS which has more than 300 faculty members.

It is reported that RIMS Superintendent Dr Y Mohen has also issued a circular to the leaders of the agitating nurses warning of disciplinary actions if the contract basis nurses fail to resume work within 24 hours.

The matter has also been dispatched to the NEC.

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