Fight for rights: Standing up, for a little appreciation
Shaista Bibi, admitted in the medical ward-II, was waiting to get her medicines but no dispenser was available.
ISLAMABAD:
After getting no response from the ministry of health the paramedics of federal health institutes from Tuesday started their token strike, to press their demand for implementation of service structure.
The healthcare professionals of Polyclinic, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), National Institute for Rehabilitative Medicines (NIRM) in sector G-8, Islamabad, Tuberculosis Center (Rawalpindi) did not work for two hours from 8am to 10am to register
their protest.
The routine work of the hospitals was badly affected and patients suffered as a result. Their attendants were seen running around searching for the paramedic staff to provide medicines or other services to the patients.
“We were already suffering because the hospital is short-staffed, but now the situation has worsened,” said Rehan Mirza, an attendant sitting in the long queue outside the X-ray department of Pims.
Shaista Bibi*, admitted in the medical ward-II, was waiting to get her medicines but no dispenser was available.
Saeedullah Jan, Head Radiographer of Pims and office secretary of All Pakistan Paramedical Staff Federation (AFFSF), told The Express Tribune, “The silence of the Ministry of Health towards our plea has forced our hand. We are well aware of how much it would affect the patients but the ministry should pay heed to our demands.”
Jan said that they will continue the protest till the implementation of service structure was ensured by the Ministry of Health in written form.
Majority of the people who took part in the strike have been working for the past 25-30 years. However, they are still on the same scale on which they started their career.
“We are working without recognition for our services. To date we have been deprived of an official designation,” a paramedic said, while participating in a protest the out patient department of Pims.
Paramedics said nurses who started their career from basic pay scale (BPS)-5 in 1960 are now working on 16-20 scale. Similarly, doctors with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree are given fast track promotions.
“Why is there so much discrimination within the same ministry,” another paramedic said, adding that the service structure for the paramedical staff had been implemented in all the four provinces. “Then why not in the federal capital?”
Talking to The Express Tribune, Mohammad Arshad, Secretary General AFFSF, said, “When doctors and nurses are trained, they are paid a stipend but in our case we have to pay fees for the courses.”
“We do not get any allowances and also no opportunities for higher education which could help us in our profession.”
*Name changed upon request
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.
After getting no response from the ministry of health the paramedics of federal health institutes from Tuesday started their token strike, to press their demand for implementation of service structure.
The healthcare professionals of Polyclinic, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), National Institute for Rehabilitative Medicines (NIRM) in sector G-8, Islamabad, Tuberculosis Center (Rawalpindi) did not work for two hours from 8am to 10am to register
their protest.
The routine work of the hospitals was badly affected and patients suffered as a result. Their attendants were seen running around searching for the paramedic staff to provide medicines or other services to the patients.
“We were already suffering because the hospital is short-staffed, but now the situation has worsened,” said Rehan Mirza, an attendant sitting in the long queue outside the X-ray department of Pims.
Shaista Bibi*, admitted in the medical ward-II, was waiting to get her medicines but no dispenser was available.
Saeedullah Jan, Head Radiographer of Pims and office secretary of All Pakistan Paramedical Staff Federation (AFFSF), told The Express Tribune, “The silence of the Ministry of Health towards our plea has forced our hand. We are well aware of how much it would affect the patients but the ministry should pay heed to our demands.”
Jan said that they will continue the protest till the implementation of service structure was ensured by the Ministry of Health in written form.
Majority of the people who took part in the strike have been working for the past 25-30 years. However, they are still on the same scale on which they started their career.
“We are working without recognition for our services. To date we have been deprived of an official designation,” a paramedic said, while participating in a protest the out patient department of Pims.
Paramedics said nurses who started their career from basic pay scale (BPS)-5 in 1960 are now working on 16-20 scale. Similarly, doctors with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree are given fast track promotions.
“Why is there so much discrimination within the same ministry,” another paramedic said, adding that the service structure for the paramedical staff had been implemented in all the four provinces. “Then why not in the federal capital?”
Talking to The Express Tribune, Mohammad Arshad, Secretary General AFFSF, said, “When doctors and nurses are trained, they are paid a stipend but in our case we have to pay fees for the courses.”
“We do not get any allowances and also no opportunities for higher education which could help us in our profession.”
*Name changed upon request
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.