Doctors, nurses threaten sit-in
Doctors, nurses and paramedical staff at government hospitals held a press conference at the Karachi Press Club announcing a sit-in on Tuesday against non-provision of health risk allowance.
On this occasion, the leadership of the Grand Health Alliance (GHA) said that when the whole world was in the grip of Corona pandemic and an atmosphere of fear was all around, health workers not only played the role of frontline soldiers but, despite the unfavourable conditions and equipment continued to perform their duties in serving the patients day and night.
They added that during this pandemic, the healthcare workers risked their families to fight it. However, the irony is that when the whole world acknowledges healthcare workers' services and appreciates them, the Sindh government is terminating the allowance of these healthcare workers using derogatory wording against them.
"Will the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff and supporting staff serving in Pakistan should continue to get the same reward. "Is this the reward for their services?" they asked. "Notices, forced transfers, issuing threatening letters, deduction of salaries and allowances, are an attempt to kill us economically," they said.
They further said that it is unfortunate that the healthcare workers of the entire Sindh are protesting against the termination of Health Risk Allowance, but the rulers of Sindh have no concern.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2022.