Hospital shuts down: Paramedics go on strike in Malakand

Patients face difficulties and delays in treatments

BATKHELA: Demanding promotions, the Paramedical Association’s Malakand district chapter went on strike on Saturday and shut down Malakand hospital, causing delays in patients’ treatment.

Members of the association marched from Malakand District Headquarters Hospital Batkhela to the press club. They shouted slogans against the provincial government and the chief minister. Addressing the protesters, many political and religious party heads who attended the protest said paramedics are the backbone of the health sector.

The entire society is affected if they are treated unfairly, said politicos. Protesters said they will continue the strike and hold a sit-in in front of provincial assembly on Monday if notification order for their upgradation is not issued on Sunday.

The Paramedical Association is a representative body of about 13,000 paramedics working at the public sector hospitals in K-P. Earlier this week, the association went on strike in Peshawar, shutting down both public and private hospitals.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2015.