Raising concerns: JPMC, NICH workers warn of another protest

They warn of marching towards CM House if issues not redressed by Feb 9

KARACHI: The employees of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and National Institute of Child Health (NICH) have warned the Sindh government to redress their issues by February 9 or they will march towards Chief Minister House and Bilawal House.

They added that all out-patient departments (OPDs) of JPMC and NICH will remain shut on February 9 if their grievances are not addressed by then. Only emergencies and blood bank will work.

The employees of both the hospitals have been protesting since last month, complaining the provincial authorities do not pay heed to their issues. "We don't want to create problems for our patients," said Abdul Qadeer, a member of the joint action committee of JPMC and NICH. "It will create a number of issues for patients in these hospitals if we are compelled to protest."

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, representatives of the committee pointed out that all the employees of these hospitals were handed over to the provincial government on deputation for three years.

He said that provincial governments in the other three provinces have granted their employees their legal rights. However, the Sindh government has not addressed the major issue since the hospitals were handed over to it in July 2011 after the 18th Amendment.

The representatives added that the dues of all employees of the JPMC neurosurgery department for last three years have yet to be released. They said that former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani issued an order on June 2013 for the confirmation of all the staff but the future of these employees is still at stake.

"The staff of other departments are given extra facilities but we are denied of our due rights," said Haji Abdul Wahid, another representative of the committee. "We receive thousands of patients monthly and treat all of them equally." The joint action committee demanded the health department to immediately release deputation and health allowances. They also urged authorities to regularise all employees of the neurosurgery department of JPMC and release their due salaries as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2015.