-Doctors refuse to call off strike without official notification
KARACHI: Talks between the Sindh Young Doctors Association (YDA) and Sindh Health Department are still underway as the former refused to call off the strike on Tuesday.
The strike would enter its third day on Wednesday after a delegation of the young doctors led by Dr Mehboob Ali and the Sindh health secretary did not reach any conclusion.
According to the details, the delay in the matter being resolved is due to the secretary’s refusal from issuing a notification regarding the acceptance of demands made by the medical fraternity.
“Reply will be given to you [YDA] after consultation with Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ail Shah,” the health secretary said.
It is pertinent to mention here that doctors have boycotted OPDs at all government hospitals in Karachi as well as other parts of the province, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Dadu, Jamshoro and other small cities.
Provincial health minister Dr Azra Pechuho here on Tuesday afternoon had announced that allowances of employees, pertaining to different cadres has been raised by Rs25,000 to Rs75,000.
Mentioning that the summary for the same has also been forwarded to Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah for approval, she said that the protesters have agreed to end their agitation.
She emphasised that the government was fully cognizant of the plight of patients from far-flung areas and have attended the issue on an urgency basis.
As per available information, the allowance of doctors serving in BPS-17 to BPS-18 has been raised by Rs60,000 while those in BPS 19-20 will get a raise of Rs90,000.
The health minister has appealed to all the members of the medical community including doctors, nurses and paramedics to realise their obligations towards the masses.
She expressed her confidence that cordiality between administration and healthcare providers would continue to be strengthened and sustained in the interest of patients.
NURSES STAGE PROTEST IN FAVOR OF THEIR DEMANDS
KMC Nurses Welfare Association also staged a protest demonstration at Senior Director Health and Medical Services Department Office demanding their promotions, teaching allowance and up-gradation of nursing cadre in KMC budget book.
The protesters were led by KMC President Nurses Welfare Association, Karam Hussain and other office-bearers Shagufta Saleem, Routh Ashraf, Naveed Anjum, Nargis, Qamar Abbas and others.
The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with different slogans. The nurses from KMC-run hospitals like Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases, Sobhraj Maternity Hospital, Spencer Eye Hospital, Spencer Eye Hospital and other health facilities participated in a protest demonstration.
Karam Hussain said nurses’ sector has been badly neglected in Sindh province, particularly in KMC-run hospitals. He said nurses have been deprived promotions, allowances, up-gradation and other facilities.
KMC Senior Director Dr Birbal Genani, while talking to PPI, said that all genuine demands of nurses would be accepted very soon after approval from the Sindh secretary health and Local Government secretary.