Alleged corruption: Paramedics continue protest in Landikotal

LANDIKOTAL: The paramedics at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Landikotal have continued their protest on the second consecutive day on Tuesday to record their protest against the medical superintendent (MS), deputy medical superintendent (DMS) and clerical staff, accusing them of widespread corruption, bribery and mismanagement.

The protest camp set up on the hospital premises was attended by health staff, local elders, elected representatives and social workers.Banners were also hung up on the walls in the camp inscribed with demands to take action against the officials concerned for corruption and irregularities in the hospital.

The Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association Landikotal chapter president Abdul Wali Khan Afridi said that a large number of people, including doctors, social workers, media persons and other influential people, visited their protest camp.

Abdul Wali alleged that hospital funds were embezzled, duty postings were sold for bribes and government accommodations were misused.Afridi said a female representative of a local NGO had been illegally allowed to stay in staff quarters, while funds from the Health Management Committee (HMC) were withdrawn without member approval.

The paramedics accused hospital officials of demanding bribes for issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) and ignoring long-standing issues such as the restoration of the dental block’s share.

Tehsil chairman, local elders, political parties’ representatives and Landikotal tehsil chairman Shah Khalid Shinwari efforts to mediate between the administration and protesting staff have so far failed as several rounds of talks were held to find a solution to end the protest but to no avail.