ISLAMABAD: Employees of five hospitals of the federal capital gathered in front of National Press Club (NPC) on Saturday, protesting against the freezing of the health risk allowance by the finance division.

They announced during the demonstration that they would go on strike, if their issues are not resolved before Eid.

The health risk allowance was approved by the PPP Government in 2011, after a 35 day protest at D Chowk, Islamabad.

Also read: ‘Historic pay package’ for doctors; YDA calls off protest

Since the last few days, employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic, Capital Hospital, Federal General Hospital and National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine have been criticizing the government for seizing the allowance.

The hospital staff argued that according to the rules of International Labour Organization (ILO), Article 152 and 161, they are entitled to a health risk allowance.

Healthcare personnel are exposed to different types of blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis B and C and injuries from needles or sharp instruments and TB etc. while caring for patients.

Pims Nursing Association President Sharif Muhammad Khattak, while speaking to the protesters said that the government should unfreeze the allowance, otherwise the protesters will be forced to go on strike.

Pims Nursing Association General Secretary Sher Muhammad Hazara said that according to the agreement with the PPP government, the health risk allowance has to be increased to match the increase in basic salary.

“This year, the salary of the staff has been increased to around Rs 3000, as the government has increased salaries by seven per cent. According to the decision of the PPP government, the health risk allowance should also be increased to match the increase in basic salary i.e. Rs 3000 but the government has frozen the allowance and is not increasing it” he said.

“It is unfair because employees in the hospitals are exposed to various diseases. The government should care for the lives and health of the employees and their families,” he said.

Mr Hazara also said that Pims hospital should be separated from the Pims University.

“Medical colleges are upgraded to universities but this is the first instance in which the Pims hospital has been upgraded to a university,” he said.

Earlier, the employees of the Polyclinic, lead by Mewa Khan, marched from the hospital to NPC and condemned the decision of the government.

Representative of the Capital Hospital Abdul Sattar Brohi said that the hospital employees have a right to the allowance.

The protesters remained outside the NPC for almost two hours and then dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2015

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