20 March 2004	Saturday	28 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 19: More than 40 out of about 160 paramedics of the Sindh Government Services Hospital, Karachi, have been performing irrelevant duties for years.

As they have been made to handle a job not commensurate with their qualification and experience, they feel not comfortable with their jobs. Official sources say that out of 32 ward servants, including five women, 16 are performing duties of peons or naib qasids.

At least six paramedics have been serving as peon and given under the hospital's senior officials - chief RMO (General), chief RMO, medical superintendent (MS), a civil surgeon, an additional civil surgeon and the head clerk.

Some of the other paramedics are serving as cook, dispenser, driver, washer man, watchman, etc. Interestingly, a gardener in PBS-1 is working as ward servant (BPS-2) in the Surgical Ward.

There are eight naib qasids supposed to discharge their duties in the administration, but four of them have been working in Paediatrics, X-ray, Eye and Cardio departments and another one assisting doctors in the Surgical Ward (Female). A cook has been assigned some duty in the M. I. Room (hospital emergency).

An OT technician in PBS-9 has been working as clerk and another one as dispenser. Sources say that grade does not matter, but employees with knowledge and experience of a particular field could perform their duties efficiently when given the same sort of job. The unjustifiable postings not only makes them uneasy with the jobs, but also affects their performance due to a lack of requisite knowledge.

For example, a ward servant is supposed to provide all facilities available at the hospital to a patient. A peon could not efficiently do the job like changing bed sheets, assist a patient in moving to a from toilet, arranging specific medicines from indoor or outdoor stores, etc.

The sources point out that administration resorts to force the employees to handle a job not related to their position. If someone dares to defy its orders, departmental action is initiated against him/her.

Such a person is served explanation letter and then a show-cause notice. Finally he is suspended or his case is referred to the Health Secretary's office.

Due to the prevailing situation, according to the sources, there is a great deal of unrest among the employees who are losing interest in discharging their duties in an efficient and responsible manner. The employees are disgusted also due to the hospital administration's uncalled for attitude with them with regard to their grievances.

The Deputy Medical Superintendent, Dr Taufiq Chaudhry, is of the view that hospital administration possessed posting and transfer powers in accordance with its need for the smooth functioning of the institution.

He, however, maintained that duties of only those employees were being changed who appeared ready for the change. "Grade does not matter in this situation and it is routine as 90 per cent of employees are working on their original posts."

He confirmed that the administration had called explanation from a few employees who had not been doing their newly assigned jobs. "We require another six sweepers, four watchmen, two drivers and two cook, but we will make new appointments upon removal of a ban on recruitment," he added.

Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Paramedical Staff Federation, Sindh, has also written a letter to the MS drawing his attention to the situation. In the letter dated March 15, 2004, the federation has requested the MS to take serious notice of assigning irrelevant duties to the paramedics.

President of the federation Niaz Bhutto has maintained that performance of the hospital was deteriorating day by day. He has offered full cooperation to the hospital's administration on behalf of the federation for an improvement and provision of any medical facilities required for patients. -PPI