Doctors do it all as auxiliary staff protest continues for third day

The auxiliary staff at Pims continued their strike against the new service structure on the third day.

ISLAMABAD:

The auxiliary staff at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) continued their strike against the new service structure on the third day.

Most new patients visiting the Pims outpatient department had to go back as no administration staff was present to register them. However doctors tried to do their bit, by adjusting people coming for treatment by substituting for striking staff.

Meanwhile the auxiliary staff at Pims, NIRM and Polyclinic Hospital marched to the National Press Club and blocked Jinnah Avenue and the road adjacent to the club for more than two hours.

They demanded that the government immediately remove Cabinet Division Secretary Nargis Sethi. They demanded salaries be paid under their old Basic Pay Scale Structure not under the new Health Personnel Pay Scale structure, and also want health risk allowance like judicial and police officials and time-frame promotions similar to teachers.

They said the strike will only be called off when their demands are fulfilled.

Doctors not part of strike

The Young Doctors Association at Pims said they have nothing to do with the strike and are trying their best to facilitate all the patients visiting the hospital. The YDA said they will continue serving patients and will treat outpatients in the hospital lawns.

Dr Asadullah Nemati, a chest specialist at Pims, said, “We are checking new patients by registering them on pieces of paper.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2012.