RATODERO – The Sindh government has failed to finalise and enforce the service structure of low paid paramedics serving in its health facilities across the province even after the lapse of over six years despite the repeated protests, boycotts, long marches and strikes by them.

An incomplete service structure of paramedics was first approved by previous coalition government of PML (Q) & MQM in 2006. However, many posts of paramedics were not included in this service structure. The left-out categories (from BPS-1 to 16 ) include laundry & generator operators, lab and theater  supervisors, medical technologists, dieticians, ophthalmology technicians, transport supervisors, ETT technicians, hemo-dialysis technicians, biochemists, artists, laundry supervisors, head dispensers, sterilization assistants, wardens, blood bank technicians, cold chain technicians, dental assistants, mechanics, junior lab technicians, anesthetists technicians, physiotherapy aids, carpenters, ward attendants, ward orderly, bakers, velcers, telephone operators, TB assistants, head gardeners, cleaners, helpers, barbers, head cooks, computer operators, hostel clerks, sanitary jamadars, insect collectors, senior store keepers, ECG technicians, dental technicians, OT technicians, laboratory technicians, tailor masters and many other posts.
Moreover, the health department has not yet issued notification for over 400 posts of paramedics.
 which it has received from various health institutions of the province, thus denying benefits to these employees many of whom are about to retire and have already retired during last six years without getting service benefits.
Health Department sources told PPI that the medical superintendents, principals, district health officers and director general health services Sindh were communicated repeatedly to submit lists of left out posts so that they could be included in formal service structure, but the lethargic bureaucracy is delaying the matter, due to which unrest is seen among the paramedics associations and the employees who plan to launch another protest movement for their demands.
Mehmood Chandio and Munawar Mangi, former leaders of Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association, Larkana Chapter told PPI that the Sindh health department is forcing paramedics to take to the roads like the young doctors of Punjab and paralyze hospital work in the province.