Work woes: Paramedics protest for allowances

Say they have not been given allowances announced in 2007

BAHAWALPUR/ FAISALABAD:

Scores of paramedics led by All Pakistan Paramedical Staff Federation staged a protest demonstration in front of Bahawal Victoria Hospital’s outdoor unit to press the government for better allowances.

Addressing the protesters, APFS district secretary Muhammad Iqbal Haddani said nurses and paramedics were being treated poorly compared to their colleagues in other provinces. “In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa paramedical staff and nurses are being paid Rs10,000 professional allowance. The government of the Punjab has denied us this allowance.

He said on February 3, 2007 the chief minister had approved a hard area allowance and a special pay package for employees of BVH and Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan. He said the money had never been paid. He said the paramedics had taken the matter to court which had ordered the government to make the payments.

He said in 2012, the chief minister, MNA Baligur Rehman and MPA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had promised them that the payments would be made soon but that had still not been done. “We appeal to the chief minister to fulfil his promise,” he said. He said the paramedics would continue to protest till their demands were met.

Doctors rally for better salaries

Dozens of doctors led by Young Doctors Association on Thursday staged a demonstration to press for salary raises and better allowances.

Carrying banners and placards, the demonstrators gathered in front of the Outdoor Patients Department (OPD) of Allied Hospital and marched to Punjab Medical College (PMC). YDA president Maroof Vaince led the demonstration.

“Doctors have been working hard day and night to provide best treatment to the public. Instead of rewarding doctors for their services, doctors have been denied incentives offered to employees of other government departments.”

“Living standards of young doctors are quite bad. They have low salaries and very little benefits. If the government cuts the Health Department budget, young doctors will no alternative source of income.”

He urged the government to withdraw the decision of reduction in the health budget.

He said the government should also improve security around hospitals. “Scores of doctors have been assaulted over the last few years. It is unfair to expect doctors to work on low salaries and in unsafe conditions.”

The protesters chanted slogans against the government. They urged the chief minister to revise the proposed Health Budget and announce raises for the doctors.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2016.