PESHAWAR, June 28: Patients suffered badly as the NWFP Paramedical Association observed a complete strike in the three teaching hospitals of Peshawar on Monday. The paramedics wore black arm-bands and held a protest demonstration in front of the NWFP Assembly against what they called the government’s failure to announce a proper service structure for them.

Paramedics observed the one-day strike at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex. No operation was carried out at these hospitals.

The health establishments wore a deserted look. Hundreds of patients had to go back home without being examined by doctors.

Hundreds of paramedics gathered near the office of the DG health services from where they marched towards the NWFP Assembly building. Enraged by what they called the delaying tactics of the government in announcing a proper service structure, they raised slogans against the government and in favour of their demands. The procession converted into a meeting in front of the assembly building. The association’s provincial president Sirajuddin Burki addressed the demonstrators.

He said the paramedics, doctors and nurses formed a tricycle which provided health-care facilities to the people. Doctors and nurses, he said, had proper service structure, whereas the paramedics, appointed in BPS-6, were retired in the same grade after serving for 30 years. They had no promotion opportunities.

The MMA government, he said, had promised to settle the matter but that promised remained unfulfilled.

Mr Burki said that during the strike emergency cover would be provided to all critically-ill patients.

He said that putting in place a service structure for paramedics would cost Rs14.6 million but bureaucrats had been trying to block the move. At present, the finance department is spending Rs45 million on the salaries of 8,680 paramedics per annum in the NWFP.

He also said that only Rs7.96 million were required for the service structure of 2,103 paramedics, including dispensers, X-ray, ECG and laboratory technicians, and operation theatre and anaesthesia assistants.

Health minister Inayatullah Khan came out of the assembly session to pacify the paramedics. Addressing the protesters, he said that a service structure had been prepared and was lying on the CM’s table.

Mr Khan said that soon the chief minister would approve it and then it would be presented before the provincial cabinet for final assent.