Paramedics to protest council merger

HARIPUR:

The Haripur Paramedics Association has announced plans to protest against the proposed merger of the Allied Health Professionals Council with the Pakistan Nursing Council.

Association's President Niaz Muhammad emphasised their unity in protecting their rights and insisted that the future of the Allied Health Professionals Council should not be jeopardised.

Speaking at a press conference at the Haripur Press Club, alongside other association officials, he stated that while they oppose strikes due to the hardships they cause for patients and their families, they are prepared to take action if necessary. They also staged a protest outside the press club to voice their concerns.

Muhammad highlighted that paramedics nationwide support the symbolic strike by allied health professionals, who are expressing their discontent with the government's unjust decision regarding the merger. He stressed that the future of millions of allied health professionals in Pakistan must not be compromised, as these dedicated workers serve communities day and night in hospitals across the country.

He lamented that after a 25-year struggle, the Pakistan Allied Health Professionals Council was finally established, yet the federal government is considering an unjust merger with the Pakistan Nursing Council—something they will not accept under any circumstances.

If the government disregards their peaceful protest and does not restore the Pakistan Allied Health Professionals Council immediately, a comprehensive protest plan will be announced at a central cabinet meeting on September 22, 2024, at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad.

Muhammad urged paramedical staff to remain united and vigilant in their fight for their rights, asserting, "Victory will be ours. The federal government should not treat us poorly or force us into strikes that disrupt hospital operations."