ALAPPUZHA: The KVM multi-specialty hospital at Cherthala will be closed down from Friday following the indefinite strike launched by the nurses. The nurses under the banner of United Nurses Association (UNA) have been on strike for the last two months demanding the reinstatement of two nurses who were sacked. New patients will not be admitted from Friday and the hospital would be shut fully after the inpatients are discharged, said director and chief medical officer Dr V.V. Haridas.
“The management had removed two staff nurses after their contract period ended. But the nurses association, with the support of various political parties, was conducting various agitations against the hospital which has been functioning at Cherthala for the past 45 years,” he said. A meeting attended by ministers Thomas Isaac and P. Thilothaman, MLA A.M. Ariff, collector T.V. Anupama and management representatives had failed to resolve the issue as the management was not ready to reinstate the nurses.
The UNA said the nurses, who were working for the last five years, were sacked without any reason. It was ready to withdraw its demands like shift system, salary hike and other matters if the nurses were reinstated. Various organizations, including KSU, Youth Congress and AIYF staged protest marches to the hospital demanding an end to the strike.
