It is known that the first district in Andhra Pradesh to report a positive Covid case was Nellore. Now, it is indeed heartbreaking to see that the contract medical staff, who worked putting their lives at stake were asked to quit by the Nellore GGH management on Saturday. At a time when there was staff shortage in the Nellore district, the government had designated GGH as the Covid hospital, and recruited doctors, FNOs and MNOs on a contract system for six months, beginning August.
Now, the decision to remove them prior to their contract period ending has sparked a row. Hundreds of employees who were asked to leave staged a dharna in front of the hospital. They lamented over being asked to leave three months prior to the end of the contract, despite having risked their lives in these times of the pandemic.
Controversy ends with Collector’s intervention
Collector Chakradhar responding to the controversy assured the release of Rs 10 Crore towards pending salaries within ten days. The DM also directed the GGH officials from sacking any of the 1,014 members. With this the issue ended.
What about private hospitals?
It comes as a rude shock to people, as the YCP government which spends thousands of crores towards public welfare, treated the medical personnel who risked their lives during Covid in such a manner. Common people are questioning that if the government itself removes employees prior to the end of the contract, won’t private companies throw their employees on the road? The medical experts are questioning who will come forward to work in hospitals if at all there is a second wave of Covid.
