Paramedics protest: ‘No work until service structure notified’

MULTAN:

The boycott of work at pubic hospitals would last until the provincial government issues a service structure notification, announce a professional allowance and pay protection package, regularise their services, set up paramedical college in Multan and construct a residential colony for paramedics.

These demands were put forth at a protest demonstration organised by the paramedical staff of Nishtar Hospital on Thursday. The paramedics observed a strike on Thursday and boycotted work in all wards expect the emergency department in support of their demands. The strike was observed on the call of the Punjab Paramedics Alliance.

The protesting paramedics gathered in front of Multan Institute of Cardiology and later organised a rally that ended at Nishter Hospital moving past the Children Complex. They chanted slogans against the provincial government, warning to go on a strike for an indefinite period if their demands were not met. They said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had during an earlier protest drive promised to direct officials concerned to issue the service structure for employees in basic pay scale 1-4.

The protesters said salaries of paramedics ranged between Rs8,000 to Rs12,000. This, they said, was not enough to sustain their families. They said a professional allowance and pay protection package similar to one announced for doctors and nurses should be announced for the paramedical staff in the province. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2012.