Poor quality masks: Ludhiana govt hospital staff protests as 4 colleagues get infected

In what yet again sheds light on the quality of the COVID safety gear supplied in government hospitals in Punjab, the entire staff of Civil Hospital in Ludhiana has begun a strike protesting against poor quality of N-95 masks. The protesters, including doctors, claimed that four employees from the hospital who were involved in sanitation have turned COVID positive owing to the poor quality of the N-95 masks provided to them.

A few days ago, the doctors had complained about sub-standard PPE kits. Due to lack of a valid response from the authorities concerned, they have now decided to go on strike. “All of us are in danger as no precaution is being taken to ensure our safety. The masks given to us are of poor quality and it has left four among us positive. We cannot risk our lives for a meagre salary of Rs 7,000, as if our life is of no value to them," said a representative of sanitation employees. 

The doctors, too, support their claims. The doctors complained that they have been working with substandard PPE kits leaving some of the staff members unconscious after wearing them. It was a surgeon at the hospital who had raised the issue on May 4 and shot a letter to civil surgeon, deputy medical commissioner and district nodal officer of COVID, but no concrete action has however been initiated. 

When contacted Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga said the safety gear was being provided by the government and only they could elaborate on the quality. Meanwhile, samples of the entire staff of civil hospital and child hospital had been collected for COVID testing in the wake of four employees testing positive on Monday. 

With 114 active cases, Ludhiana has the highest number of COVID positive cases in Punjab as of now.