ISLAMABAD: The employees of the Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH), also known as Polyclinic, delayed the inauguration of a nursing school at the Polyclinic dispensary at G-7/3 on Thursday.

The employees have been campaigning for the unfreezing of the health risk allowance.

The nursing school was to be inaugurated by Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Barrister Usman Ibrahim at 11am. But the protesting employees refused to let the minister enter the premises.

After an hour, however, the protesters allowed the minister to enter the nursing school. The school, which cost Rs40 million, has the capacity to train 100 nurses every year.

Speaking at the inauguration, the minister called nursing a noble profession. He reminded the nursing students to work hard and serve humanity. Mr Ibrahim said the government was increasing the stipend for nurses to encourage more people to join the profession.

He also said that in the near future the nursing school would introduce BSc courses. The minister directed the joint coordination committee to review the curricula offered by the Pims and Polyclinic nursing schools and introduce a uniform curriculum Meanwhile, the Polyclinic employ-ees held a rally towards the Prime Minister`s Office but called it off after reaching near Melody.

The health risk allowance was approvedin 2011by the then Pakistan People`s Party (PPP) government after a 35-day protest at D. Chowk. The health risk allowance was to be increased equal to the increase in the basic salary. However, the PML-N government has now frozen the allowance.

The allowance is given to healthcare personnel because they are exposed to various types of blood-borne and radiation-related diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, cancer, needle or sharp instrument injuries and tuberculosis while providing medical assistance to infectious patients.

As the Polyclinic doctors and medi-cal staff started the rally, they were met by representatives of the ministry of finance, the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration and others for negotiations.

Former member National Assembly (MNA) Mian Aslam was also present.

He said doctors and medical staff should not be deprived of their rights.

Throughnegotiations,it was decided that the health risk allowance issue would be resolved by Monday.

Joint action committee chairman Dr Sartaj Ali Khan said if the allowance was not restored by Monday, the hospital employees would hold a protest rally again.

Due to the severe heat, two of the protesters fainted and were shifted to the Polyclinic hospital in Edhi ambulances.