KIMS doctors to operate OPD only half-day
The hospital management and employees' association held a meeting recently, but failed to come to a conclusion.
Bengaluru: The doctors and medical staff at the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), led by the Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha, continue to protest against delayed wages and unfair hiring policy. They are planning to intensify the protest and will operate the outpatient department (OPD) only from 9 am till 1 pm till June 21, ensuring that emergency cases are attended to.
There are more than 2,000 employees, including doctors and medical staff, at KIMS and the Sangha is demanding that the excess staff be managed through transfers. The hospital management and employees’ association held a meeting recently, but failed to come to a conclusion. Bette Gowda, president, Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha, said, “We are asking the management to look into distribution of staff through transfers. The hospital should not have more staff than required. They should rather segregate them and put them where they are required.”
The protesters alleged that the management has appointed over 670 non-teaching staff for 200 vacant posts. Instead of hiring for senior positions, the management has appointed juniors to avoid paying higher salaries, they said.
The protesters had earlier called to shut down the OPD completely, but now it will be functioning half-day. Their demands will be discussed at the executive committee meeting on June 21. However the employees’ association has decided to continue their overnight protest till then.