QUETTA: Emergency services at the government-run hospitals in the provincial capital were suspended as the nursing staff continued to protest for the fifth consecutive day on Friday.

The nurses vowed that they would not resume duties till their demands were accepted by the government.

Their demands include payment of the professional health allowance and risk allowance, increase in stipend from Rs10,000 to Rs20,000, pay raise in line with what nurses in other three provinces have been getting, announcement of a service structure for nurses in Balochistan and establishment of a housing colony for married nurses.

“There are no emergency services available at any of the big hospitals, including Bolan Medical College and the Civil Hospital, due to the nurses’ strike,” said a hospital official, adding that people faced difficulties as a result of the protest. The medical superintendent of Civil Hospital, Dr Fareed Samalani, warned the nursing staff that if the health of any patient deteriorated or if anyone died because of the strike, they would be held responsible for it, not the hospital.

Dr Samalani also issued notices to those on strike and asked them to report for duty immediately as the hospital and patients were suffering.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2017