KARACHI, Jan 26: The Provincial Nurses' Association has urged government to ensure implementation as promised by former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain for raising the pay scales of nurses from 14 to 16.

PNA's General Secretary Mrs Afshan Nazli said former prime minister while speaking at a health conference in Islamabad six months ago had announced that the government would upgrade scale of nurses from 14 to 16 and head nurse from grade 16 to 17, but implementation on this decision was still awaited.

She said that nurses occupied very important position in health care system of any country and had many responsibilities, which was also praised by the prime minister during the conference.

"Nurses welcomed the promise of upgrading scales and it was supposed to benefit more than 30,000 nurses in the country, including more than 10,000 in Sindh. However, the promise has not been fulfilled so fay," she said.

Afshan Nazli said: "Many nurses have to work in odd hours as there has always been shortage of nursing staff in Pakistan. Number of sanctioned posts is also very limited as compared to nurse ratio per bed or population," she added.

She urged the government to introduce reforms in this area of health so that girls could be encouraged to join this profession. She further said that the government should increase salaries of nurses.

"Many of nurses after getting training here flee abroad in search of better salary and status. The government should realize the situation and take immediate steps," she added. -PPI