Bhubaneswar, Oct. 3: Forty-year-old Krishan Mahapatra had a tough time today at the Capital Hospital when he found no nurse or midwife to take care of his nine-year-old son suffering from thalassemia.

He was told that all the 164 nurses and midwives working with the public hospital had joined cease work called by Odisha Nursing Employees' Association. They were demanding regularisation of job for staff nurses working under the National Health Mission and a hike in their basic pay from Rs 5,200 to Rs 9,300.

Mahapatra told The Telegraph that he could not find "A Negative" blood elsewhere and had come to the Capital Hospital early this morning. "I had admitted my son to the paediatric ward and brought the blood from the hospital blood bank, but there was no nurse to take the procedure ahead," said Krishna. "After I cajoled other staff, a ward boy did the procedure," he said.

Though the statewide agitation was called off at noon, the strike continued at the Capital Hospital till 4pm. A nurse, on request of anonymity, said they were not informed about the decision of their leaders and therefore continued the cease work till late in the afternoon.

Leaders of the association,who were in Cuttack, had called off the strike after MLAs Debasish Samantray and Prabhat Biswal of the BJD assured the protesters to take up their demands with the health minister.

Relatives were seen scampering from one ward to another to find nurses to take care of the patients.

"I brought my wife who is in her 32nd week of pregnancy for a regular check-up. I went to the doctor who had prescribed some injections, but couldn't administer them in the absence of nurses," said Sisir Maharana. "I had to take her to another nearby hospital to get the injections administered," he said.

A senior Capital Hospital administrator admitted that they were helpless in such situations. "The staff nurses are trained, who cannot be replaced by accredited social health workers (Asha) or anyone else. We had requested them not to go on cease work. That is all we can do. Their demands are to be fulfilled by the government not us," said the official.

Similar situation was noticed at the Municipal Hospital, which has around 30 staff nurses. "Although this hospital is less crowded, the strike had affected the services here. People were forced to go to nearby private pathologists and laboratories for routine tests and other services," said a pharmacist at the Municipal Hospital.

Association secretary Pravati Mohanty said that they had earlier received a letter from the directorate of nursing and also had a detailed discussion with the two MLAs at the SCB Medical College and Hospital here today.

"The two legislators spoke to the health minister in our presence and assured that our demands will be fulfilled within two months, so we have called off the strike," said Mohanty.

Contacted, a senior health department official said a committee would be formed to look into the demands of the nurses.

"The committee will give their inputs and we are sure they will come up with some solution by the end of December," said the official.

City-based social worker Premananda Jena said it was of concern to have various sections of government employees, particularly those in the health sector, going on strike.

"A few days back some ambulance drivers threatened to go on a strike, shortly after pharmacists did the same. They should know that they come under the Essential Service Maintenance Act and such actions affect everybody. They should ensure hassle-free services to people," said Jena. He, however, added that the government should also ensure proper facilities to the nurses.

"The state is already reeling from acute shortage of doctors and other paramedical staff. In such circumstances, the government should take enough steps to keep the workers happy if they don't want further trouble. They are the backbone of our medical sector," said the social worker.