VEHARI: Up to 43 daily wage employees of three public hospitals were sacked due to the shortage of funds on Tuesday.

The employees had been working in hospitals for the last one year. The termination of the staff from service has caused the shortage of staff in hospitals.

The sacked people include ward boys, sweepers, peons, labourers and technicians. Of them, 29 are from the Mailsi Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) hospital, nine from the Vehari District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital and five from the Burewala THQ hospital.

DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Fazal told Dawn that due to the shortage of funds and on the directions of the health department, they sacked the staff. Mailsi Medical Superintendent Dr Atta told Dawn that he had no option but to sack the daily wagers because the hospital was not getting funds. Burewala Medical Superintendent Dr Amjad Shakil said the hospital had sacked all the daily wage employees due to the shortage of funds. He said the hospital could not run its affairs with the sanctioned staff.

“We’re facing acute shortage of helping staff,” he said.

The sacked staff of the Mailsi THQ Hospital protested outside the hospital and chanted slogans against the hospital administration. They demanded that the health department withdraw the termination order.

Kashif and Inam, on behalf of the sacked workers, told reporters their protest would continue till the acceptance of their demand. They appealed to Prime Minster Imran Khan to look into the matter.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2019