By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The state government has asserted that it would have no other option but to discontinue services of the EMRI if their issues are not resolved.
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Thursday, Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek said that the department held a meeting to discuss about the issues pertaining in the EMRI 108 services in the state on Thursday.
“The employees and EMRI should address their problem. The government’s concern is that service to the people should not be disrupted at any cost,” he said.
He also maintained that if EMRI does not take care of their employees and if the services are disrupted, the government would have no other option but to discontinue the services.
It may be mentioned that GVK EMRI 108 service in Meghalaya was started in 2008-09 and it has saved the lives of many people. However, of late the employees and the management are locked in a stand-off over certain issues. Meanwhile, sources said that the meeting held by the Health minister on July 22 decided to form a committee to look into the issues and hear both sides and come up with recommendations based on the findings for the government to resolve the matter .
Sources also said as per the last meeting, status quo was to be maintained where suspension, show cause, termination of service and transfers were to be put on hold. Field staff were asked to call off the strike and asked to undergo refresher training. All field staff are mandated to undergo refresher training every six months to validate their patient care skills.
“No training is like driving without license. It’s compromising with the patient’s safety and hospital care quality. Each refresher training course is valid for six months and the last training is due since May but only 23 joined,” a source said. The 108 operation runs on tender on fixed cost yearly escalation based on inflation that is on wholesale price index that has been around 3.5 per cent annual rise and thus the abnormal rise in minimum wages by 73 per cent cannot be implemented without additional support from the government.
After all the staff are not government employees but it has provided direct livelihood for 250 people besides indirect employment.
It was also informed that the employees have asked for salary deduction clarification and as salary is a confidential issue , clarifications can be given to respective individuals on their written request directly or through the union.