Health secretary Anand Kishor on Friday said action would be taken against the contract paramedical employees on strike, who disturbed the surgical services at Patna Medical College and Hospital on Thursday.

Addressing a news meet a day after, Anand said: "Strike should be enforced in a peaceful manner. Employees have every right to call a strike but there is a process for everything. They cannot take law in their own hands. Interference in the operation theatre (OT) services is in a way putting patients' life at risk. It can also be seen as interfering in government work. The hospital administration has lodged an FIR against the errant employees. We would initiate action against those responsible."

Anand did not divulge what kind of action would be taken.

A section of employees on contract, who are on strike, entered the operating theatre in the middle of a surgery on Thursday and touched sterilised equipment to mess up the procedure. The PMCH administration later lodged an FIR against the employees at Pirbahore police station.

The PMCH administration on Friday claimed there was no disturbance by the employees on strike. Surgeries were conducted peacefully.

"Yesterday (Thursday), they created a serious problem by entering the OT and touching sterilised equipment. We had to postpone surgeries. Today (Friday), the workers did not interrupt work," said PMCH deputy superintendent Sudhanshu Singh.

Doctors, too, heaved a sigh of relief, as they did not face any interference or agitation from the employees on strike. A surgeon said: "Tomorrow (Saturday), I have four surgeries lined up. I don't think we would face any kind of problem in conducting them. Today (Friday), surgeries were conducted peacefully."

Sources said the civil surgeon's office has provided a few OT assistants to PMCH. Apart from this, few students (pursuing OT assistant course at the hospital) have also been engaged in the operating theatre to ensure work is not hampered owing to the strike.

The health workers on contract, who are on strike, said they would continue with their agitation. "We would call off our strike only when we get some assurance from the government regarding our regularisation," said Rajesh Kumar, president, Bihar Rajya Anubandhit Para Medical Karmi Sangh (association of contract health workers on strike).

Around 950 workers (operation theatre assistants, lab technicians, X-ray technicians and dressers) working in government facilities are on strike since Tuesday demanding regularisation of services.