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| Monday, 23 August 2004 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi Health authorities yesterday came hard on the dramatic move taken by para-medics to abstain from emergency services and extra official working hours. Para-medics including X-ray and ECG technicians and medical laboratory technicians have withdrawn from working extra duty hours demanding the authorities to make their usual piece rate payment. Accordingly, they will not work from 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm to 8.00 am. Hospital authorities said this action by para-medics had affected the routine services at hospitals. "However, their demand to make the piece rate payment is unjustifiable given the fact all other employees are only given overtime for working extra hours." officials said. Officials said those para-medics had earned exorbitant amounts through this piece rate payment system where they get an extra amount for each case done by them after normal duty hours. "While all others including doctors are paid over time calculating the hours they have worked, it is unreasonable for one group to be paid in a different manner for working extra hours," the official noted. Amidst this trade union campaign by para-medics, hospital authorities are now seeking the assistance of private hospitals for X-rays and other laboratory tests. Meanwhile, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday said their members are ready to cover the duties of ECG technicians when they withdrawing from emergency services. "Our members and doctors following internship are ready to do the ECG tests if such equipment are provided to us," a statement by the GMOA said. |
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