Paramedics on hunger strike for promotions, allowances

SPA claims the token protest will continue if demands are unmet.

MINGORA: The token hunger strike by the Swat Paramedics Association (SPA) continued for the fourth day in Sharif Teaching Hospital to reinforce their demand for a special allowance and promotion. Similarly, paramedics in Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Khwazakhela were also on a hunger strike.

According to the SPA, the protest will continue till November 25, reiterating their appeal for time-based promotions and different kinds of allowances from the government.

SPA Chairman Sultani Rom said all paramedics should be given the rank of scale 12 before completing 10 years of service.



“Scale 14 must be allotted to those paramedics who complete 10 years of service, scale 16 on 15 and scale 17 on 25 years of service,” demanded Rom.

Diploma holding paramedics who are currently serving should be entitled to scale 14 while all degree holding paramedics who are in service should be entitled to scale 17, argued the protesting paramedics.

“Health professional allowance for all paramedics should be immediately announced. We have been ignored by all previous governments as they upped basic pay scales for other department employees but not ours,” said SPA President Riaz Ali Shah. Paramedics demanded they should be registered with the Health Regulatory Authority (HRA). “We will not tolerate it if our demands are not fulfilled this time,” said general secretary of the association Mian Gul Aleem.

Officials of the association said their strike could be prolonged by another day.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2013.