Hospital staff halt services

Pokhara, July 26:

Temporary employees of the Himalayan Eye Hospital here today halted all work except emergency services. The employees are up in arms demanding that the management meet their 30-point charter of demands, including permanent appointment.

The employees launched their agitation on July 17, saying that the hospital administration ignored their genuine demands. They worked yesterday wearing black bands on their arms.

Nepal Netrajyoti Sangh and Eye Care Worldwide Nepal jointly run the hospital.

Talks held yesterday to sort out the problem ended inconclusively after programme officer of Nepal Netrajyoti Sangh Shailesh Mishra and programme director of Eye Care Worldwide Nepal Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota said they cannot meet the employees’ demands, coordinator of the employees’ agitation committee Durgesh Raj Pant said.

He added that they would sit for another round of talks only if the chairman of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh Dr Ram Prasad Pokharel joins them.

A total of 300 patients on an average visit the hospital daily for treatment.