Our wages lower than other BMC hospitals: Parel hospital staff

When contacted,a senior BMC official said that the incongruities were due to revisions in the Sixth Pay Commission,which had been implemented in BMC hospitals,but were yet to be adopted at Wadia Hospital. Doctors at the hospital,however,said that these revisions were introduced for BMC staff only in 2008,whereas they have been underpaid for the last five years. The BMC official admitted that as per the trust agreement,staff at the Wadia Maternity hospital was entitled to the same pay as other BMC staff. The hospital management was tight lipped about the issue,but said the matter would be discussed with the BMC. “We have decided to approach the BMC to upgrade our staff salaries,and introduce revisions of the Sixth Pay Commission,” said Chief Executive Officer,SB Chavan.

Meanwhile,the proposed renovation of the Bai Jerbai Wadia pediatric hospital,adjacent to the maternity hospital has been stuck for two years. The staff and patients of the 250 bedded hospital were all shifted to the maternity hospital’s 3rd and 4th floor,which originally housed the library,laboratory and even store rooms. Doctors have been consistently complaining about a spurt in infections in children,because of the cramped nature of the wards,and their proximity to the labour room and ICU of the maternity hospital. Staff of the pediatric hospital’s social service department have been sitting in the corridors for the past two years,as no room space was available for them.

“The management convinced us that the shift was temporary. The whole idea of the shift was too impractical. But after two years,no renovation work has even started in the hospital,” said a pediatrician,who did not wish to be named. Hospital authorities said the work was delayed since the hospital had been declared a heritage building. “We have submitted our request to the heritage committee. They scientifically examined the stability of the structure and that took a long time. Now we are awaiting the sanction of the committee,” said Chavan.

Sources in the BMC’s finance department said the trust has submitted requests for a fresh grant from the corporation for the renovation. “As per the agreement,BMC’s share of funds is only meant for staff salary. But now they have asked for financial assistance for the renovation work,” said a senior BMC official. The worker’s union maintains that the shift should not have been instructed without the necessary permissions. “What was the point of shifting us out for two years,when the management was well aware the hospital was a heritage site? We plan to file a PIL on the issue. Despite repeated requests the authorities have not agreed to discuss the matter,” said Uday Bhatt,chairman of the Hospital union.