Neighbours unite: Hospital workers protest likely privatisation of health facilities

JPMC, NICVD and NICH workers engage in scuffle with police as they try to block road

KARACHI: The employees of three government-run hospitals scuffled with the law enforcers on Friday morning as they tried to block a main road to protest the likely privatisation of their health facilities.

The workers of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and National Institute of Child Health (NICH) held a demonstration against the possible privatisation of the hospitals. They also demanded payment of their health dues and deputation allowances and to be given their due promotions. The workers complained they have been denied their legal rights for the last three years.

More than 100 staff members of three major hospitals of the city blocked the road. The police tried to reopen the road but scuffled with the staff when they resisted. "It is our legal right to protest," said Zaryab Hayat Tiwana, the leader of the Sindh Health Employees NICH, JPMC, NICVD, joint action committee. "The police used abusive language against female staff as well," he claimed.



The protesters dispersed when the health department special secretary, Dr Khalid Hussain Shaikh, assured them that he will hold a meeting with them next week.

"We'll continue our protest from Monday," Tiwana warned. "The government doesn't listen to our issues seriously and we have had enough now," he added, saying the employees may march towards Chief Minister House in the coming days.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2014.