Minister assures paramedics of professional allowance

PESHAWAR: Assuring the paramedics of resolution to their longstanding demand of Health Professional Allowance (HPA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai on Tuesday directed the authorities to submit a detailed report about the total strength of employees and whole cost within two days.

He gave the assurance at a meeting here, which was attended by Health Secretary Dr Jamal Yousaf, Director General Health Services Dr Pervez Kamal and other officials.

Shahram Khan told the representatives of paramedics that since Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had made commitment with them to provide them health professional allowance, he had called the meeting to honour his promise.

The health minister directed the authorities to complete homework on it and submit a detailed report within two days. He told the paramedics that though it would be difficult to pay them same HPA, which the doctors were paid, the government would try to pay them maximum amount within financial limitations of the province.

The minister said they would hold another meeting after two days and would then send the report to the Finance Department for approval. Meanwhile, central leadership of provincial paramedics association said they were not invited to the meeting. Syed Roeedar Shah, in a statement, said none of them were present in the meeting.