Health workers’ protest continues

Health workers protest discontinuation of coronavirus health risk allowance

Health workers of government hospitals boycotted out-patient departments (OPDs) for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, protesting the discontinuation of coronavirus health risk allowance.

The Grand Health Alliance had made the call for the protest on Monday.

While doctors boycotting OPDs caused patients inconvenience and many of them had to return without being provided the required consultation, the protesting health workers held firm that the government needed to resume the provision of Covid-19 health risk allowance.

Outlining their other demands, they called for promotions on the basis of four-tier formula, payment of salaries to nurses working in coronavirus wards and regularisation, among others.

They warned of stop working completely and widening the protest if their demands were not addressed.

"The government is not taking us seriously and it is responsible for the inconvenience caused to patients," said one among them. "We would end the protest right now if our demands are accepted."

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2020.