Thiruvananthapuram: Nurses at Kerala's private speciality hospitals and medical colleges are up in arms about low wages, poor service conditions and the notorious bond system.
Staff at the Amrita Institute of Medical Science (Aims) in Kochi, which runs the famous Amritha Medical College and Azeezia Medical College in Kollam, have been on strike.
The functioning of Aims medical college hospital has been seriously affected and Azeezia Medical College has closed its wing as nurses walked out.
Recently, the nurses also went on a strike at Sanker's Hospital in Kollam, a major super speciality hospital in the region, and Sun Rise hospital in Kochi, crippling them for days.
The strike was finally called off on the assurance of the respective managements that the minimum wages prescribed by the government, provident fund (PF) and employees state insurance scheme (ESIS) would be implemented.
Beaten up
Both at Amrita hospitals and Sanker's Hospital, the nurses were beaten up at the hospital premises for going on strike by men paid by the management.
A male nurse at Amrita broke his right leg in an attack. In all, four nurses who suffered serious injuries at Amrita were admitted to hospital.
Aims pays a salary of Rs4,500 (Dh319.33) to a nurse at the entry level irrespective of qualifications, while the minimum salary fixed by the government for a private medical college nurse at the entry level is Rs8,002.
However, it has implemented PF and ESIS for them, said a striking nurse who didn't want to disclose her name.
"How can we live with this amount in a city like Kochi," the nurse said.
"Our salary is not enough for our food, leave alone the accommodation and other expenses.
"In Kerala, an agricultural worker has to be paid Rs500 for a day, but our daily salary will not come even half of it, though we are dealing with human life with full dedication and responsibility."
An Aims public relations officer said efforts were being made to settle the issue amicably.
Indications are that the unrest is fast spreading to other poorly paid hospitals. Hospitals run by Christian management are not at risk as they pay the statutory salary and other benefits.
