Haryana nurses continue to protest online transfer policy

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Association flags difficulties for women staff; patients, attendants also face inconvenience

Panchkula: Nursing staff of the Haryana Health Department continued their protest for the second day on Tuesday against the online transfer policy, citing practical difficulties and seeking intervention by the state government.

The nursing staff staged a sit-in and raised slogans against the government. The association has also announced a two-hour strike from October 5 to 7.

Vinita Kumari, state president of the Officers’ Welfare Association, Haryana, has written to the Chief Minister, Health Minister, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department, Director General of Health Services and district civil surgeons, highlighting the concerns of nursing staff.

According to the association, implementation of the online transfer policy has created several practical difficulties for employees. It said a large number of women nursing staff had responsibilities towards their elderly parents, children and families, and transfers to distant places could lead to family-related and mental stress.

The association said nursing staff provide patient care during morning, evening and night shifts, with many nursing officers remaining available at healthcare institutions round the clock. It urged the authorities to consider these practical difficulties before implementing the transfer policy.

Meanwhile, patients and their attendants reported difficulties at hospitals amid the protest.

Family members of patients said the absence of nursing staff had led to delays in administering medicines and providing care. They also reported difficulties during the morning hours due to the limited availability of nursing staff.

The association has appealed to the government to consider its demands and resolve the issues at the earliest. It also warned that the agitation could be intensified if its concerns were not addressed.