October 20, 2002	Sunday	Sha'aban 13, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Oct 19: All the non-gazetted employees of the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) observed a token strike on Friday to protest against the attitude of hospital administration.

The call for strike had been given by the supreme council of all the associations of the hospital-paramedics, clerical, maintenance and class-IV staff against the attitude of the KTH administration towards solution of their longstanding problems.

As many as 1,000 employees of the hospital wore black armbands to express their anger at the attitude of the administration. However, they performed their duties.

Speaking at a gathering of striking workers Chairman of the supreme council, Ashfaq Yousafzai, said the staff had not been given its dues for the last 16 months. He also accused hospital’s Finance Director Shehzad Naeem of financial irregularities.

He said the workers planned to observe strike only for two days but if the management failed to mitigate their grievances they would be forced to continue their strike for an indefinite period.

He said a charter of demands had been submitted to the hospital management but it was using delaying tactics and had even refused to meet workers leaders.

He demanded that employees should be given their dues immediately and an enquiry should be initiated against the finance director.

He also demanded appointment of sons of retired employees on their posts, removal of irrelevant officials from the institution-based practice, installation of water coolers at staff hostels, free medical facility for employees, restoration of increments and quota in universities for employees wards and provision of white overalls to the staff.

Mr Yousafzai alleged that the administration was trying to turn institution-based practice into total failure because the staff was not given their 10 per cent share despite clear instructions of Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah.

The paramedics, he said, got Rs6,000 for 86 patients in the first month of the IBP, which had now been reduced to Rs1,700 despite 100 per cent increase in number of patients.

He stated that the administration had appointed people who had no role in the IBP but they drew more than Rs10,000 per month, which was a burden on the hospital’s kitty. The share given to the staff was not commensurate with their duties.

He urged the NWFP governor and health minister to take steps for the solution of their problems and save the situation from further deterioration.