trainees and house officers in federal government hospitals, Punjab and Balochistan were getting higher salaries and stipends as compared to doctors in Sindh. He said despite assurances from the provincial government, the health authorities were not willing to pay them at par with other provinces.
He claimed that the JPMC administration had sought at least 300 applications for postgraduate trainees and house officers in April this year, so they could be forwarded to the health department for increment in their salaries. However, despite assurances and promises the government was not ready to listen to their demands.
“After considering all aspects, the doctors found no other viable option left but to protest and boycott health services to compel the authorities to increase our stipends.” He said.
On the other hand, the paramedical staff and employees of JPMC and NICH said they were entitled to receive health allowance equal to one basic salary, which was being paid to federal and provincial health employees except for Sindh. They said the bureaucracy was creating hurdles in payment of the due rights of the paramedical staff and hospital employees.
“The paramedical staff of NICH and JPMC has formed a joint action committee (JAC) and now we are protesting against the indifferent attitude of provincial government. We have set up a protest camp at the JPMC and unless government issues a notice for the payment of health allowance to JPMC paramedics, we are not going to resume our services,” said Muhammad Ismail Jiskani, a representative of JPMC’s paramedical staff while talking to The News.
Meanwhile, Sindh health secretary Saeed Mangnejo with JPMC’s executive director Dr Anisuddin Bhatti talked to the protesters and tried to convince them to end their boycott, giving the assurance that a notification will soon be issued regarding the increase in doctors’ salaries and pending health allowance within three days.
The protesting doctors and employees including doctors and paramedics, however, refused to end their protest and said they would call of the boycott only if their demands were met. The protest had been under way till the story was filed on Monday evening.