Negotiation phase: Paramedics call off strike after assurances from govt

Give a month-long deadline for approval of demands

MALAKAND/ CHITRAL/ HANGU/ ABBOTABAD/ PESHAWAR/ BANNU/ SHANGLA/ MARDAN/ DI KHAN: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Paramedical Association called off their strike on Wednesday after the provincial government vowed to resolve their grievances. The protest was taking place across the province, bringing work to a halt at hospitals. However, in several districts, associations were confused about the official word on the status of the strike by the time this report was filed.

The association’s provincial general secretary, Roedad Shah, told The Express Tribune, they have given the government a month’s deadline to approve the summary for the up-gradation of paramedics across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Before negotiations, paramedics refused to perform their duties at hospitals.

“The document has been signed by K-P’s finance secretary and has also reached the health department,” said Roedad. “The department has promised a summary will be sent to the chief minister in the near future.”

The general secretary said the health department promised steps will be taken to meet their demands within a week. However, the association’s leadership gave the health department a month to ensure none of their demands are left out.

“Apart from up-gradation, paramedics should be entitled to provide first-aid in their respective villages just as they were in the past,” said Roedad. “If homeopathic doctors can perform these duties, so can we.”

He also urged the provincial government to announce service rules for paramedics.

“If these demands are not met, the association will have no choice but to take to the streets and boycott duties at hospitals across the province,” Roedad added.

Back to normal

Earlier in the day, association members held separate strikes at hospitals in various districts. Paramedics protested at Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar.

Paramedics also boycotted their duties and took to the streets in Mardan, DI Khan, Hangu, Bannu, Malakand, Abbottabad, Shangla and Chitral. However, strikes were officially called off in DI Khan after the government assured paramedics their demands would be addressed. Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune, protests by the paramedics association in Abbottabad on Wednesday remained largely successful.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2015.