ISLAMABAD, June 2: The All Pakistan Paramedics Staff Federation (APPSF) has asked the government to grant risk and technical allowance worth Rs1,000 per month to the paramedics.

A press release issued here on Wednesday said the paramedics during their duties are exposed to diseases like hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

A substantial number of technicians are suffering from these fatal diseases, it added It said the paramedical staff, with out any distinction, be granted risk allowance or technical allowance worth Rs1,000 per month.

Emergence of the modern diagnostic and therapeutic technology has increase importance of the paramedics as more than ever before. The paramedics are the third pillar of health sector while they have no uniform educational structure as well as service structure and less chances of growth in their field.

The APPSF said currently paramedics was the only sector in the entire country, which does not have any service structure. It said paramedical staff are appointed in different pay scales in the federal territories, Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, and Balochistan. All the provinces, Azad Kashmir and the federal government have their own service structure for the paramedic, it added.