Falling on deaf ears: Nurses press for service structure, increase in salary yet again

Demonstrate outside: K-P Assembly building to voice demands

PESHAWAR: Nurses from across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) held a demonstration outside the provincial assembly building on Monday to press for a service structure as well as an increase in salary and allowances for student nurses. They blamed the provincial government for not paying heed to their genuine needs.

The protest was led by Provincial Nurses Association President Farrukh Jalil. Also present were members and presidents of other nurses’ associations.

The participants held banners and placards inscribed with their demands during the demonstration.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Provincial Nurses Association Vice President Gulshan Bibi said a two-week deadline had been issued to the government to fulfill their demands of a service structure, allowances for student nurses, promotions, dress and mess allowances as well as student scholarships.



She said both the former and sitting health ministers promised the nurses an upgraded service structure and other facilities on several occasions. However, the association’s vice president stressed that little action had been taken by the authorities.

Gulshan Bibi claimed nurses in other provinces were provided every kind of facility, but the ones in K-P were denied their rights. “In Punjab, student nurses get double the amount compared to K-P which is an injustice,” she said.

The nurse pointed out several BPS-17 and 18 posts lay vacant in various hospitals, but the government seemed least interested in filling them.

Gulshan Bibi added the majority of nurses belong to poor families and their relatives depend heavily on their salary. She said the salaries were very low compared to other government officials, while nurses were also deprived of other allowances.

She demanded the government increase their salaries and provide them daily mess, professional and dress allowances like the rest of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2014.