UP govt threatens to impose ESMA if KGMU employees stage strike

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 21 : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday issued a warning to healthcare workers following a flash strike at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow district.
Deputy Chief Minister Pathak who, also holds the Health and Medical Education portfolio visited the trauma centre on Thursday and declared that the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) will be imposed if such strikes occur again.
Addressing the protestors, Pathak said, "Strikes will not be tolerated in the hospital premises. ESMA will be imposed on strike. No one has the right to play with the lives of patients. If there is any complaint then meet directly. There will be no solution through the strike."
Pathak also inquired about the well-being of the patients and talked to the KGMC hospital management and contractual employees.
He assured the employees that strict action would be taken against the concerned executive body but the strike was not a means to get their demands met and said that if there was any problem, the employees could contact him directly.
The Deputy CM interacted with the KGMC management and obtained detailed information about the health facilities and said that providing high-level health services to every patient is the top priority of the government.
The strike, triggered by a recent wage cut, involved contractual workers and brought all Outpatient Department (OPD) services to a standstill.