Functioning of private hospitals in the district will be seriously affected from Monday as nurses have declared an indefinite agitation demanding implementation of Supreme Court directions and the reports of the Balaraman and Veerakumar committees regarding revision of wages.
However, the Trivandrum Hospitals Coorindation Council has decided to close down their out patient (OP) counters to counter the nurses.
In a press release issued here on Sunday, the council said that a number of small and big hospitals in the city will close down their OP counters on Monday.
“Those who have called for the strike are putting the lives of patients in danger. There is no doubt that the employees working in hospitals need to have better salaries. For this, discussions need to be conducted, considering the economic situation of the hospitals,” said the press release.
A State council meeting of the United Nurses Association (UNA) held here on Saturday had taken the decision to go on strike. The association has said that it will provide minimum number of nurses in the casualty department. However, new admissions through the OP department will not be allowed. A team of expert nurses will be kept ready to handle emergency cases. Their services will be provided in emergency situations, including accident cases.
Government hospitals are expected to feel the pressure as the large number of patients who usually frequent private hospitals are expected to flock there following the strike.
The strike in private hospitals comes close on the heels of a similar action by nurses in Government hospitals. The list of hospitals that have joined the OP shut down call given by the council include Ananthapuri hospital, KIMS hospital, SP Fort, PRS Hospital, GG Hospital, Meditrina Hospital, SUT Hospital, Attukal Hospital, BNV Hospital, Chelsa Hospital, Lords Hospital, SK Hospital, DPMS Hospital, Precise Eye Hospital.
