THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health minister K.K. Shylaja has appealed to the United Nurses Association to drop their indefinite strike plan to avoid difficulties to the common man. The minister said that the government had taken steps to increase the minimum wages of nursing staff and other hospital staff. She said steps were being taken to enhance their salaries in a realistic manner.
She said the nurses association should cooperate with the government to ensure uninterrupted nursing care for the patients in hospitals. At a time when the government was trying to deal with the fever cases, striking work would only compound the problems in the health sector. Labour minister has convened a high level meeting on Monday to discuss the matter with the stakeholders to resolve the issue. The minister has also assured a formula acceptable to both sides.
Former health minister V. S. Sivakumar said the strike was not justified especially when people were dying of fever and communicable diseases. The private sector caters to a vast majority of population in the state and the strike would only add to the burden of government hospitals in the state. He disputed the claims of the government about bringing fever cases under control. Many deaths are being reported daily and the number of cases coming to the hospitals has only increased.
