Agitation affects hospitals in Kannur

Police protection for hospitals

The ongoing strike by the Indian Nurses’ Association (INA) in five private hospitals in the district will continue, while the decision to extend the strike to other hospitals in the region will be put on hold till July 10.

The strike which entered the sixth day on Tuesday affected the functioning of the five hospitals. INA functionaries said the strike would be extended to other hospitals in the region only on the basis of the outcome of the government-initiated discussion on July 10.

“While the INA started the strike in the hospitals here after fully complying with the notice period norms, its decision to start strike in other hospitals in Kannur and Kasaragod district will be put on hold till July 10 when the government will hold another round of discussion for conciliation,” INA secretary E.M. Vineeth Krishnan said. The striking nurses had made arrangements to take care of dialysis units and emergency cases, he said.

The nurses are striking in Dhanalakshmi Hospital, Speciality Hospital, Ashirvad Hospital, and Koyili Hospital here and Lourde Hospital at Taliparamba.

These hospitals have reduced the intake of inpatients in the absence of adequate nursing staff.

HC order

Special Correspondent writes from Kochi: The Kerala High Court has ordered police protection for the smooth functioning of some private hospitals in Kannur in view of the ongoing strike by nurses.

The court issued the interim order on a batch of petitions filed by Lourde Hospital, Taliparamba, and others seeking police protection.

The striking nurses were now blocking the entrance, shouting slogans, and threatening physical assault on doctors, co-workers and the nurses who were willing to work, the hospital managements said in their petitions.