Patients suffer as Class-IV staff, clerks go on strike

CHITRAL: A protest camp was set up at the District Headquarters Hospital Chitral led by Inayatullah Khan, president of the class four staff, and Muenul Mulk, president of the cleric association.

Addressing the participants of the protest camp, their leaders said the provincial government had announced the professional allowance for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff but Class III and IV staff were ignored and deprived of the allowance. MPA Saleem Khan visited the protest camp at the DHQ hospital and expressed his sympathy with the staff.

Talking to this scribe, the MPA said during the PPP government in the province un-attractive area allowance and firewood allowance had been increased by up to 130 per cent but the PTI-led government did injustices with these staff despite claiming justice for all. Inayatullay Khan said, “We visited Peshawar to meet high-ups of  the health department and they assured us that the allowance would be released for Class IV and class II staff but they did not keep their word forcing the staff to go on the strike.”

Woman staff also set in the strike. Two of the participants, Hazrat Bibi and Sumaira said they worked day and night but were not granted the professional allowance. They warned that if they were not given their genuine right they would continue their strike and totally boycott their work.

When contacted,Medical Superintendent of the DHQ hospital Dr Iftikhar Ahmad said due to the strike of the staff they were facing a number of problems, especially in cleanliness and operating of the diesel generator.

Subhanuddin, a former nazim, said most of the patients visiting the gynecology and labour room were returning to their homes or to private clinics. He said as mostly the hospital remained without electricity there was no electrician to operate the diesel generator for supplying of electricity the operation theatre.