KARACHI: A protest by nurses at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) over disputed promotion decisions disrupted hospital services on Tuesday, with all scheduled surgeries reportedly cancelled as protesters gathered at the hospital's administrative office.
Members of the Young Nurses Association (YNA) are protesting promotions to senior nursing positions, alleging that the appointments were made in violation of seniority, merit and applicable service rules.
The dispute centres on promotions to the posts of chief nursing superintendent and deputy chief nursing superintendent, with the nurses demanding that the decisions be withdrawn and reviewed.
Nurses challenge promotion decisions
According to the Young Nurses Association, the hospital administration had earlier assured protesting nurses that the disputed promotion notification would be reconsidered. The nurses allege, however, that the notification was not withdrawn, prompting them to stage a protest at the administrative office.
The association has questioned the promotion of candidates who, according to its seniority list, were ranked below other eligible nurses.
The protesters specifically alleged that a candidate ranked third on the seniority list was promoted to chief nursing superintendent, while a candidate ranked ninth was promoted to deputy chief nursing superintendent.
The nurses said eligible candidates had been overlooked and demanded that the promotions be reviewed in accordance with seniority, merit and relevant service regulations.
Protest disrupts scheduled surgeries at JPMC
The dispute escalated into an operational disruption when scheduled surgeries at JPMC were cancelled on Tuesday amid the nurses' protest.
The protest also affected patients admitted to hospital wards, with reports of difficulties in accessing routine nursing services.
According to the reports, protesting nurses remained at the hospital's administrative office instead of carrying out duties in wards and operating theatres.
The disruption has raised concerns over the immediate impact of the dispute on patients, particularly those requiring planned surgical procedures and routine hospital care.
Hospital administration gives different account
JPMC administration, however, maintained that the protest involved only some nurses and said other hospital operations were continuing normally.
The differing accounts highlight the extent of the disruption as the dispute over the promotion orders continues.
While the nurses maintain that the disputed appointments have violated established promotion criteria, the administration has not been reported as accepting the allegations.
Nurses demand review under service rules
The Young Nurses Association has called for the disputed promotions to be reconsidered and for future appointments to senior nursing positions to follow established seniority, merit and service rules.
The nurses' demands focus on ensuring that eligible candidates are considered fairly and that promotion decisions are made according to the applicable regulatory framework.
The controversy comes at a time when senior nursing positions at a major public-sector teaching hospital carry significant administrative and clinical responsibilities.
Dispute puts patient services under pressure
The immediate concern is now whether the dispute will continue to affect clinical services at JPMC.
The cancellation of scheduled surgeries demonstrates how an administrative dispute over promotions can quickly have consequences for patients and hospital operations.
Any prolonged disruption could affect patients waiting for elective procedures, as well as nursing services across wards and operating theatres.
For now, the central issue remains unresolved: nurses are demanding a review of the promotion decisions, while the hospital administration says the protest is limited and that other services remain operational.
Further action by the administration on the disputed promotion notification could determine whether the protest ends or develops into a wider disruption of services at one of Karachi's major public hospitals.
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