Unfulfilled demands: Paramedics’ strike enters 2nd month

MIRPUR: As the strike of paramedics in state-run hospitals of Azad Jammu and Kashmir entered its second month on Thursday, patients continued to suffer from delays in their surgeries. A visit to the hospitals revealed that a large number of patients were left stranded for two hours as surgeons were forced to postpone their operations due to the strike. The paramedical staff has been observing a two-hour strike every day for the past one month to press the government to fulfil their demands. The demands include implementation of service and basic pay structure in addition to grant of risk allowance. The health authorities have yet to map out a plan to bring an end to the strike, which has become imperative for the smooth functioning of hospitals. Meanwhile, patients continue to suffer through delays in surgeries.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2012.