Medical staff calls off strike on third day
File
The health workers ended their three-day protest against non-payment of health risk allowance in the federal capital on Thursday. They announced to end the strike in the presence of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nausheen Hamid.
Addressing the protesting employees, the special assistant announced that the health risk allowance should have been given to the staff earlier. He added that the health workers would keep receiving the allowance as it was their right.
Upon his assurance, the protesters called off the protest and announced to resume work in outpatient departments (OPDs) and vaccination centres.
It should be noted that the health ministry had declared all health workers eligible for the risk allowance on Wednesday. It had further directed to submit separate lists of clinical and non-clinical staff by July 15.
The ministry had also sought details of monthly salaries and the overall impact of the allowance along with vaccination reports of the health workers from the hospitals’ heads.
The health ministry had stated that the clinical staff will include doctors, nurses, paramedics, lady health workers, house officers, all supporting staff and student nurses.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2021.