Thiruvananthapuram: A section of private hospital managements have decided to shut hospitals from Monday in the wake of nurses’ association decision to strike work. Health minister K. K. Shylaja said the government would deal sternly with the strike of private hospitals and ensure health care services for patients. She said the government will not succumb to the pressure tactics of the private hospital managements. The hospital managements have said that in the absence of nursing staff, health care services in their institutions will be crippled.
Association of Health Care Providers pointed out that their institutions would not be able to run even emergency services. The association has expressed the fear that if they went ahead with hospital services in the absence of nursing staff, it could create serious situation in the hospitals. In the event of any mishap, the public would directly target the hospitals and it would be difficult to handle such a situation.
It is in view of the impending threat that the hospitals decided to cancel even scheduled surgeries and other services. Through this move, the private managements are trying to apply pressure on the government to act strongly against nurses. However, Kerala Private Hospital Management Association disassociated with the proposed strike. At a press conference here the association office bearers said there was no question of shutting down the hospitals. They said all efforts would be made to run the services including emergency care. However, the hospitals may find it difficult to provide all services especially those requiring technical support. She warned that shutting of private hospitals will trigger a major crisis .
