Internal Dispute Escalates at Geta Eye Hospital

Dhangadhi. An internal dispute has erupted at the Geta Eye Hospital in Geta, Kailali. A dispute is currently visible between the administration and the employees at the hospital.

The main root of the dispute in this hospital, operated under the Nepal Netrajyoti Sangh, is said to be related to services and employee career development. Employees who have been working honestly for years have expressed their anger, stating that even their minimum demands have not been met.

Their main demand is to be provided with the increased cost of living allowance from last year's budget. Employees accuse the hospital administration of withholding the allowance, which has already been decided by the center.

Employees have demanded that since the Nepal government implemented a public holiday on Sunday, it should be implemented at Geta Eye Hospital, or they should be given a compensatory holiday and extra allowance in lieu of it.

Employees complain that the demand to ensure the number of staff and services by conducting an Organization and Management Survey (ONM) of the hospital has been neglected for a long time. Employee OP Rana informed that employees who have been working for a long time are now being fired.

'Even the employees hired as local hires are now being tried to be fired. We have never hesitated to serve patients. When it comes to our rights, the management has instead wronged us,' he said.

Employees had padlocked the hospital chief's office and the administration branch on Jestha 4th, stating that their demands were not being met. Employees say that they did not let the patient service be affected even when they were protesting.

The administration, instead of solving the problem, has been mentally pressuring employees, asking for explanations, and intimidating them by involving the police and administration, according to the employees.

Employees have also approached the Far-Western Regional Office of the National Human Rights Commission for justice. The commission has also shown serious interest in this matter and has sought a response from the hospital administration. According to the commission's acting chief Man Bahadur Karki, although the hospital has sent a response, this is primarily seen as an internal management dispute.

Meanwhile, the hospital's Chief Medical Director, Dr. Sureshraj Panta, claims that the dispute has been resolved. He claims that there are no longer any problems as a letter has been received from the center.

'It is the administration's responsibility to ensure compliance with the institution's rules and discipline, and explanations have been sought accordingly,' he said.

Employees do not accept this claim of the administration. They say that their problems have remained the same for years due to the administration's practice of only talking but doing nothing in practice.

This dispute at Geta Eye Hospital has also worried local residents and life members of the institution. On Tuesday, locals themselves went to the hospital and pressured the administration to understand the reality. The hospital premises became tense for a while.

According to local Bharat Khadka, it is unfortunate that such a prestigious institution faces disputes repeatedly.

'There seems to be a lack of communication between the lower and upper-level employees. If the management committee and Netrajyoti Sangh do not resolve this in time, the hospital's reputation may decline,' he said.

Another local, Giriraj Bhandari, warns that the mental pressure on employees could negatively affect service delivery. He urged the concerned bodies to address this problem and resume normal services at the hospital soon.