Back To Normal: Pims non-medical staff calls off strike

ANHEMA settles on offer providing them similar service structure as doctors and paramedics.

ISLAMABAD:

Pims is getting its support staff back. And the patients there can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now. The non-medical staff of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) called off their strike on Friday, after getting assurance from the hospital administration that their demands will be met.

All Non-Medical Health Employees Association (ANHEMA) Spokesperson Abbas Naqvi, told The Express Tribune that they called off the strike following a meeting with Pims Executive Director Mehmood Jamal, Joint Executive Director (JED) Dr Jehanzaib Aurakzai, Children Hospital JED Dr Amjad Mehmood, and Islamabad Hospital JED Dr Iqbal. J Salik, Convener World Minorities Alliance and a former federal minister, also attended the meeting.

ANHEMA was told that the hospital will offer them a similar service structure as for doctors and paramedics. The staff was protesting peacefully for their rights since April 13. They want the new Health Personnel Pay Scales (HPS 1 to 13) instead of Basic pay Scales (BPS 1 to 22). Under HPS all paramedics, nurses and doctors moved to the next grade. After the new scale is implemented, the non-medical staff will also get similar promotions.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.