Cuttack, July 15: Healthcare services at SCB Medical College and Hospital here were partially affected today following a statewide ceasework agitation by contractual nurses.

Contractual nurses, under the aegis of All-Odisha Contractual Nurses’ Association, have launched an indefinite strike from Sunday demanding regularisation of jobs and pay revision.

“We had to face a lot of problems today as all the contractual nurses had gone on a strike,” said Kishore Sahu, a patient’s attendant in the medicine ward of SCB Medical College and Hospital.

More than 420 contractual nurses sat on a dharna in front of the outpatient department (OPD) of SCB Medical College and Hospital from early this morning.

As the contractual nurses form the majority of the hospital’s nursing staff, the SCB authorities had to manage the services today with only 295 regular nurses.

“We have launched a ceasework from today as the state government failed to fulfil our demands despite several meetings and protests,” said Malati Tripathy, a member of All-Odisha Contractual Nurses’ Association.

The association has been demanding regularisation of the contractual nurses’ services and revision of pay from Rs 5,200 to Rs 9,300 per month. Besides, they also demand an increase in grade pay from Rs 2,800 to Rs 4,600.

Though the SCB Medical College and Hospital authorities had decided to deploy nursing students today to cater to the medical needs of the patients keeping in view the ceasework by the contractual nurses, the plan failed as the nursing students also decided to sit on a dharna to protest against delay in the conduct of their examination.

“It has been over a year that we are waiting for our examination as the authorities are yet to take steps to conduct the tests. Though the results of the previous examinations have already been announced, students are yet to receive their marksheets,” said Trupti Rout, a nursing student.

The nursing students, however, called off their strike after the medical college authorities assured them to initiate measures for the conduct of their examination.

“Nursing students were engaged to deal with the crisis situation arising out of the strike called by contractual nurses today. However, there has been no problem in treatment of patients at the hospital. Necessary steps will be taken according to law to resolve the grievances of the nursing students,” said hospital administrator Sanjita Das.