Berhampur, Feb. 2: Health services were affected in the main operation theatre (OT) and many wards of MKCG Medical College and Hospital here today after 423 staff nurses resorted to mass strike.

"We managed surgical operations with the help of some postgraduate students in the absence of about eight staff nurses in the main OT. Though it was difficult to conduct operation, we did it as the urgent cases had been prescheduled. But, we had to cancel some less urgent cases because of unavailability of the trained staff nurses in the OT today," said associate professor of department of surgery Tapas Rout.

A handful of nurses, who are in charge of the OT and various wards, attended duty today and were assisted by nursing students. "Work was definitely hampered," said one senior nurse requesting anonymity. "We have to do everything and the pressure of work has doubled," she said.

The Odisha Nursing Employees' Association (MKCG branch) general secretary Sibani Das said: "We sat on a dharna in front of the hospital superintendent's office from 8am to 12noon today to press for our demands. We joined work after 12noon and gave one day to the authorities to fulfil our demands."

"The superintendent has assured us to convey our decision of the government. But, we will continue our strike if the government fails to fulfil our demands," she said. MKCG superintendent Khetrabasi Subudhi, however, said health service at the hospital had not been affected by of the strike. Class IV workers' union leader Sukant Mukhi said: "We will also join the strike if government closes its eyes to the demands of the staff nurses."

The staff nurses' demands include removal of anomalies in the Odisha Nursing Service Code and inclusion of all in the Revised Assured Career Progression Scheme.