Punjab

Privatising healthcare: Paramedics protest against proposed privatisation of public hospitals

Protesters threaten countrywide strike if demands not met

Our Correspondent March 30, 2017

Paramedics press the government to approve health allowance for all health department employees. PHOTO: NNI/FILE

LAHORE: Four major hospitals, including Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore General Hospital, Services Hospital and Mental Hospital, were stormed by enraged health professionals on Wednesday to register their protest against the proposed privatisation of public sector hospitals.

The participants held protests, chanted slogans and later organised a sit-in. The Punjab Paramedical Staff, which has now been renamed as the Pakistan Allied Health Professional’s Organisation (PAHPO), organised the protest.

Holding placards and banners, the paramedical staff announced they would hold another protest in front of Charing Cross at Mall Road if the government does not fulfill their demands. Spokesman for PAHPO Shoaib Anwar Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that besides anti-privatisation demands, they have three more demands including legislation of professional allowances, risk allowances and restructuring of all staff from grade 1 to grade 16.

“Earlier, we silently marched from OPDs of all these hospitals as we did not intend to disturb the OPDs and other operations and staged rallies in front of the entrances of all these hospitals,” he remarked.

He added a large number of the participants, including laboratory technicians, operation theatre technicians, dispensers and other staff, took part.

“Most of the paramedics or health professionals are serving on a contractual basis or daily wages for the past five to 20 years. Their wages have not been increased for so many years,” he regretted.

“We appeal to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to look into the matter and order the regularisation of their services,” he asserted.

The protesters threatened to take their agitation from district to the provincial level and later to countrywide involving all the branches of paramedical associations if their demands were not met timely.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2017.