Paramedics’ reasonable demands met

Ridma Dissanayake

The Health Ministry along with the Finance Ministry has taken measures to meet reasonable demands of paramedics, the Health Ministry said in a release yesterday.

The Health Ministry had taken this decision due to the situation faced by patients at state hospitals.

The Health Ministry has agreed to increase the telephone allowance by Rs 500 for every grade and also to respond to their second demand in a fair manner.

The Treasury had agreed to pay a special allowance to paramedics who are in special grades. They have presented a demand related to recruiting qualified graduates to the paramedic service and the ministry had agreed to this as a national policy. The Health Ministry also agreed to introduce a new rate for overtime payments. The letter related to promotions in Grade one of the paramedic service had already presented for Cabinet approval. Lectures’ allowances are to be increased by Rs 10,000 and a paper has already been prepared for approval.

The Health Ministry has taken measures to provide demands of the paramedics and the ministry urged these officials to report to work considering the patients’ plight.