PESHAWAR: To break the logjam over health reforms, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday declared health as an essential service in all medical teaching institutions.

A section of the medical fraternity, however, vowed to press ahead with its opposition to reforms, accusing the government of bulldozing its decision in order to privatise public sector hospitals. However, the employees are undeterred to go on strike in Peshawar division against the government move.

Addressing a news conference, Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai said that Essential Service Maintenance Act, 1958 was enforced and any strike call or creating hurdle in patient care by any employee would be deemed as misconduct and offence on the part of such employee. The Peshawar High Court had asked the government to adopt the relevant law to put brakes on strikes at public sector hospitals, he added.

“All those employees, who are not working, will face disciplinary action, said the minister, referring to the strike announced by employees of MTI-covered hospitals. He said that the move was aimed at improving patients’ care.


Protesting doctors seem undeterred by the govt’s move


“The government implements its plan of reforms in health sector. We have immense potential at the hospitals but resources are mismanaged,” he said.

The minister said that majority of the employees backed government’s programme but few of them wanted to create hurdles in it. He said that nobody would be allowed to deprive patients of care.

The Employees Coordination Council, an organisation of nurses, doctors, paramedics and Class-IV staff of hospitals has announced strike in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda hospitals which can be extended to other hospitals of the province if their demands are not met.

Mr Tarakai said that PHC had also dismissed petitions against the health reforms law and the people opposing it lacked substance to prove their point. He asked them to support the government’s efforts.

The government has followed a decision of PHC, which had asked it in 2010 that the “services of medical professionals such as doctors, paramedics, nursing staff and other employees of the government hospitals shall be declared essential services and necessary amendment be made in the West Pakistan Essential Services (Amendments) Act, 1958 or the government may by notification to be published in official gazette”.

The chief secretary issued a notification earlier directing all persons working in the MTIs-covered hospitals and other facilities offering curative, rehabilitative, preventive, promotive and supportive services, partially or fully funded from the general exchequer that they should not leave, abandon or discontinue working at their duty places.

“The employees violating the order will face criminal cases and criminal prosecution under the law,” it said. The person found guilty of offence under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year and shall also be liable to a fine including dismissal from service.

The directives have been circulated to the employees at Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.

“We want cancellation of transfer orders of our three union leaders, restoration of Postgraduate Medical Institute, professional allowances for all health professionals and reviewing new duty schedule at LRH,” said Dr Musa Kalim, chairman of the council said.

He said that government’s arbitrary decisions would only deteriorate patients’ care instead of any improvement. He said that government didn’t listen to their demands and forced them to go on strike to register their complaints. “We will be waiting for government’s response to our demands and will take decision accordingly,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2016

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