QUETTA: More than a dozen operations scheduled at the Civil Hospital and the Bolan Medical College Hospital could not be carried out on Tuesday as nurses and paramedical staff refused to come to work till their demands are accepted.

“My brother has a fractured leg and is admitted to the Civil Hospital’s trauma centre,” said Muhammad Imran, adding that his brother was scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday but it was postponed due to unavailability of the nursing and paramedical staff.

Several patients admitted to the Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical College said that they were suffering and facing difficulties because of the nurses’ decision to go on strike.

Abdullah Khan who was waiting with his father in the surgical ward claimed that nobody was looking after patients at the hospital.

The nursing staff went on strike on Monday claiming that their demands, including an increment in the allowance of student nurses, had not been met. They joined the paramedical staff who have been on strike since last month.

The nursing and paramedical staff carried placards, banners and protested at the Civil Hospital. They shouted slogans against the government and health department.

Speaking at the protest camp set up at the Civil Hospital, Balochistan Nursing Association’s President Gulfam Kakar said that the strike would go on till an official notification regarding the acceptance of their demands was issued.

“A few months ago we called off the strike on assurances by the health minister and other officials of the health department but nothing has been done so far,” said Ms Kakar, adding that the attitude of the health department and provincial government had forced the nurses to go on strike.

According to Ms Kakar, the nursing community in Balochistan was facing serious financial problems including no residential colonies. “A summary for Rs10,000 as allowance has been prepared instead of Rs20,000 as we had demanded,” she said, adding that Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri should take notice of the situation and resolve the issues as soon as possible so the nursing staff could return to work.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2017