K-P doctors compensation package far from reality

In November last year only one doctor’s widow received the package

PESHAWAR:

The families of around 48 doctors who died of Covid-19 in the Khyber-Pakthunkhwa province have not been paid their compensation packages despite the passage of one year.

So far 78 health workers have lost their lives in the province in the pandemic and despite repeated announcements by the government; their families are still waiting for the payment.

Talking to The Express Tribune the information secretary of Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) Dr Salim said that in April last year government announced a compensation package for the deceased doctors and it was approved by the provincial cabinet too.

“In November last year Dr Muhammad Javed’s family was paid the shaheed package but after his family not a single one has received the package and their families are awaiting it,” he said, adding that Dr Javed of Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) was the first martyr of the doctors’ community in the province.

Read: Another doctor succumbs to novel coronavirus in K-P

Sources told The Express Tribune that government had already approved a fund of Rs120 million in this regard but no further step had been taken so far.

President PDA Dr Amir Taj has sent a letter to the government including secretary and Director General Health two months ago in which he demanded of the government not to delay the matter anymore and a list of the deceased doctors was also attached but government has not taken any action on the letter too.

“The most unfortunate thing is that the Directorate of Health has not updated its list of doctors who were killed in the pandemic in the province. Neither are they willing to verify the list submitted by PDA from the District Health Officers (DFOs), MTI hospitals and medical directors,” Dr Salim lamented, adding that the payment should be made immediately.

When contacted an official of the Health Department told The Express Tribune that so far 39 doctors and other health workers have died of Covid-19. They said that around 3000 health workers were infected.

PDA claim that 48 doctors, 12 paramedics, six nurses and 12 other health workers have lost their lives so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2021.