Nurses call off protest in Karachi

Four-tier formula devised to address demands of the protesting nurses

KARACHI: The protesting nurses finally called off their protest, which had been ongoing for the last eight days, after a delegation of health department officials managed to convince them to come to the table.

On Monday, the delegation of health officials met representatives of the Sindh Young Nurses Association and chalked out a plan to address their demands.

Earlier in the day, the protesters staging a sit-in at the Karachi Press Club, started marching towards the Chief Minister House. The police stopped their march by placing barriers. The protesters, nevertheless, tried to go forward by removing barriers but the police foiled their attempt after which, the nurses started shouting slogans.

Later in the day, the health department agreed that a four-tier formula, prepared in consultation with representatives of nursing staff, would be submitted for approval by the competent authority within 10 days.

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The government further agreed that the matter of professional health allowances already proposed by the health department will be considered by the finance department in due time.

With regards to cases of promotions, nursing staff cases will be placed before the Departmental Promotional Committee (DPC) in the shortest possible time.

The notification issued by the health department mentioned that the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) has already been requested to expedite the recruitment process of staff nurses. It stated that the recruitment requests for other posts would be sent to the SPSC soon after the approval of change in the nomenclature of various posts as agreed under the four-tier formula arrangements.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2019.