Salaries and sulks: Chandka hospital strike ends as MS transferred

Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Memon to replace Dr Zulfiqar Sial as medical superintendent.

LARKANA:

The Sindh government on Monday took notice of a strike by the paramedical staff of Chandka Medical Hospital (CMH) and its affiliated hospitals, including the Sheikh Zayed Women’s Hospital, the Children Hospital and the Teaching Hospital, and transferred its medical superintendent, Dr Zulfiqar Sial.

Sources said that several patients admitted to CMH were compelled to move to private clinics, after the strike stretched into its eighth day.

Five people died on Saturday reportedly because of the dearth of support staff at the hospital.

“We had issues with Dr Sial’s attitude towards us. Besides this, he was not releasing the salaries of 100 workers of the hospitals affiliated with CMH,” alleged Zulfiqar Sehto, the general secretary of the paramedical staff.

He said that with Dr Sial removed from his position, the principal demand of the workers has been met. “We will resume our duties from today,” he added. “We hope that the new official will have more time to listen to us.”

When contacted, Dr Sial said that the hospital staff was blackmailing him. “I did whatever was in favour of the hospital and its patients, but there is no justice for those who are honest and sincere with their jobs,” he said.

Accusing the protesters of lying, he claimed that no salaries were withheld. “The government should have looked into the matter before making its decision,” he added.

Dr Sial confirmed that the government has appointed Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Memon to the position he had vacated.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2012.