Essential Services Act: PHC stays transfer orders of health employees

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court on Thursday stayed the transfer orders given to employees at hospitals under the Essential Services Act (ESA), 1958.

The bench suspended the notification and sought a reply from the boards of governors of both Lady Reading and Khyber Teaching hospitals. Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Irshad Qaiser were hearing a writ petition filed by paramedics’ association president Jauhar Ali, Roidad Shah, Mujahid Azam and 20 other employees.

Employees at LRH and KTH were transferred after they protested against the Medical Teaching Reforms Act, 2015.  The government had earlier implemented the ESA, essentially making it illegal to boycott provision of services.

Petitioners’ counsel Shamail Butt said doctors protested against the MTI act but instead of taking action against them, the health secretary transferred paramedics.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2016.