LAHORE: More than 20,000 nurses employed with the public sector hospitals in Punjab will start getting health risk allowance from the current month.

Initially, the nurses in BS-16 to BS-20 will get Rs4,000 per month with effect from Jan 1, 2017, while the amount of the allowance will be Rs9,000 a month from June 1 this year.

“Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has accorded approval to a summary pertaining to grant of the allowance to the nurses,” said Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah during a meeting with a delegation of Young Nurses Association (YNA) in his office on Friday.

Mr Shah said the department was revising the yardstick for the bed, doctor and nurses ratio that would also enhance the posts of doctors as well as nurses.

The secretary observed that the real target was to ensure best healthcare facilities and quality medical cover to the patients and all steps were being taken in this regard.

Led by YNA President Rozina Manzoor and Secretary General Shahnaz Dar, the delegation members assured that they would continue working with more dedication for the betterment of the healthcare delivery system and provision of medical cover to the patients.

The delegation thanked the chief minister, Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Minister Salman Rafique and the department secretary for accepting a just demand of the nurses.

Published in Dawn January 21st, 2017