Healthcare workers continue protest to bring back Health Risk Allowance

Karachi: Doctors and para medical staff have chosen to continue their protest against the withdrawal of the Health Risk Allowance from their salaries, until this decision is reversed.

The healthcare workers including junior and senior doctors, nurses and other paramedics have continued their peaceful protest outside the Sindh Secretariat as part of the Grand Health Alliance on Wednesday. While the doctors continue protest, outpatient departments across the province continue to remain closed on the 9th of November, in accordance with the recently declared public holiday.

Dr Mehboob Ali of the Grand Health Alliance says that the doctors will not resume duties unless the government will withdraw its decision and reinstate the Health Risk Allowance as part of their salaries.

He also added that the committee might also march towards to Chief Minister House to raise a voice against their issue.

The Health Risk Allowance was added to the salaries of all health workers during the time of Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020. An amount of Rs17,000 was given to health workers maintaining Grade one to 16, and a Rs 35,000 was added for those doctors possessing a rank above grade 16. The Risk allowance was discontinued in 2020 but was reinstated after protests by the doctors.