Paramedics at CHK protest against unfair transfers of lower staff

KARACHI - The paramedical organizations at Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), recently staged a protest demonstration and also boycotted their duties against transfers of lower medical staff from Pharmacy Department, by the hospital administration.

Sources at Civil Hospital Karachi said; Over two dozen employees have been transferred from pharmacy department by hospital administration and they have been sent back to their original posts for compliance of Government of Sindh -Health Department order.  The hospital administration, in compliance of provincial health department letter, has relieved about 30 employees from stores and they have been directed to report at their original department.

The various paramedical organizations including; All Sindh Peoples Paramedical Staff Welfare Association, Sindh Paramedical Staff Welfare Association and Functional League Paramedical Staff Association staged protest demonstration and also shut down the pharmacy department.  The paramedics also boycotted the OPD, for one hour, against the transfer of lower medical staff in the hospital.

The dejected protesters said; Hospital administration has transferred around 30 lower staff from store, under the cover of an order by the apex court, but various retired doctors and other administrative officers have been working on contract basis in the hospital. They said administration has adopted unfair double standards with the lower staff, as only lower cadre employees have been sent back to their original departments.

Information Secretary, All Sindh Peoples Paramedical Staff Welfare Association Liaquat Mastoi said; Hospital administration should  remove the officials who are working under the umbrella of the “Own Pay and Scale” (OPS) on higher posts in different departments. He said: The account officer and other officials are working on their posts on contract basis after retirement.

He has given 48 ultimatums to the hospital administration to withdraw the decision and accept their other demands otherwise they will completely boycott the OPDs services in Civil Hospital. 

Senior leader Sindh Paramedical Staff Welfare Association Akhlaq Ahmed Khan said “Why is the hospital administration targeting only the paramedical staff in the hospital, while various retired doctors are still working on their posts.” He said; Only non-technical staff should be removed from the store. Random transfers of employees will affect the performance of the hospital. 

Medical Superintendent Civil Hospital Karachi- Prof Saeed Qureshi was not available for comments.