A tribute to the dedication, sacrifice, and resilience of Kerala’s nursing community.
We should never forget that in the UK during the Covid period most British citizens have honoured our nurses with flowers on their doorsteps to express their gratitude for the nursing community.
It is not a cliche to call nurses the ANGELS of healthcare: the unique but less rewarding life saving field. Nursing needs empathy, professionalism and the expertise to work at least 12 hours a day without taking any break, even on the most regressive HARTAL RITUAL of Kerala.
In addition, they have to manage our doctors, who seem to be bit dominating, irritating and anxious relatives of patients, and patients who are either delusional or passing through some traumatic experiences.
Since the three vital aspects of life are food, shelter and healthcare, the service of nurses needs to be acknowledged. It must be borne in mind that nurses have to study at least 4.5 years, while their counterparts in Europe, to cite an example, have to study only 3 years to be a registered nurse. Our nurses are well-respected in all the progressive nations such as 27 nations in Europe, the UK, the US, Canada, Scandinavia,Australasia and the Gulf. In all these places our nurses, as they are doing a demanding job, are paid from 3 lakhs to 6 lakhs per month plus perks since nursing is an essential service and a respectable job.
Needless to state that, nurses are the backbone of Kerala’s healthcare system, working tirelessly to save precious lives and provide quality care. Despite their critical role, they’re underpaid and overworked, earning only ₹20,000 per month, to put in perspective, in Europe our nurses draw Rs 300,000 per month & perks in the first year itself. And in the US and Australia, the starting salary of a nurse is 5 lakhs.
In contrast, an average doctor earns ₹200,000 and various commissions here, highlighting the stark disparity in payment in healthcare. Nurses toil for 12 long hours, 6 days a week, often going above and beyond to care for patients. May I add that although men and women are considered equel, women in Kerala have many more duties such as cooking, household chores, looking after their parents or elderly in-laws and they have to shoulder the additional responsibility of bearing & rearing their children, who might be bit naughty as well. While taking all these responsibilities, nurses are overburdened and highly stressed with the responsibilities of their unique demanding jobs in hospitals tolerating the impersonal attitude of the hospital management. (in certain hospitals nurses are not permitted to sit!)
The demanding schedule of nurses leaves them exhausted, yet they’re expected to provide compassionate care. The nurses’ demand for a hike to ₹40,000 is reasonable, considering their nature of duty, dedication and expertise. It is time their contributions are valued and recognized.
I stand in solidarity with the striking nurses, acknowledging their tireless efforts. It is time for the government to address their legitimate demands and ensure fair compensation for these healthcare heroes. When hospital managements are not hesitant to charge exorbitant charges from patients, why can’t they pay nurses reasonably well.
The earlier their strike is settled, the better it is for patients, their relatives and for 5 star hospitals, the cash cows which are being taken over by multinational companies of the world.
G John
B-GHUD ACADEMY
MAVELIKARA
9497786999
7736978420