Protesting doctors seek job regularization

By Rashid Zia Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The lives of more than 40,000 patients suffering from hepatitis was at stake as they were devoid of vaccine under the government sponsored Hepatitis Control Programme. On the other hand the staff including 438 doctors and nursing staff working in the programme was protesting at not being given permanent status yet.

The Hepatitis Control Programme was launched in Sindh for patients suffering from hepatitis B and C for which 82 centers were established in the province with huge staff on temporary basis. 

However the staff was given assurance by Sindh Health Department that they would be regularized in future but the promise was not fulfilled. 

The staff later approached the court of law where the Sindh government, on January 30 this year, assured that the staff would be regularized after completing the data. 

The leaders of Doctors’ Action Committee, Dr Abdul Rahman and Dr Mansoor Qureshi, regretted that the Sindh government did not fulfill it promise of regularizing the staff of Hepatitis Control Programme following which 82 centers of Sindh were shut down through which more than 40,000 patients used to get free vaccination. 

They disclosed that the hepatitis injection was out of stock due to which the lives of the patients were in danger. They warned that the hepatitis can convert in cancer if the vaccination line was discontinued. The doctors revealed that the health department has once again assured the regularization of jobs but they were not in a position to pull back the patient from mouth of death. 

On the other hand sources on the condition of anonymity indicated that the tug of war of corruption in the purchase of vaccine between influential personalities was the main cause of the crisis.