Staff strike paralyses Manipal Hospital
POKHARA: A staff strike in the Pokhara-based Manipal College of Medical Sciences has taken hospital services and academic activities in the College to a sudden halt for last one month.
As many as 300 medical students have been deprived of their right to education.
The College staff have launched an agitation demanding annual increment in their salary and allowances as agreed with them in 2013.
The College has shut classes for 15 days from February 14. The students would soon return to the College to resume classes, but they are very likely to be hit by the strike.
The protesting staff have even blocked students from entering hostels.
They have partially shut the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the hospital in the College, forcing hundreds of patients to visit other hospitals.
Bikram KC, Chairman of the Manipal Staff Coordination Committee, said they resorted to the strike as rounds of talks with the College authority failed to address their demand.
Likewise, Ramesh Bohara, Chairman of All Nepal Health Workers Association Manipal Unit, warned that the protest would intensify if the demand was not met at the earliest.
Kaski District Administration Office, Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Labour Office among others had intervened in a bid to solve the issue, but failed. Now, the Department of Labout is looking into the case, according to trade union leaders.