Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, December 23, 2011: Health Minister Adoor Prakash on Thursday said that an expert committee headed by former acting Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission S Balaraman would be constituted to study the problems of nurses employed by private hospitals in the State.

Addressing a press conference here, the Minister said that nurses were being subjected to exploitation in many private hospitals. They were not getting salaries commensurate with their qualifications. Many were forced to do overtime without additional payment and were being denied benefits such as duty off and medical leave. They were not even getting treatment for job-related diseases contacted by them. Many were also being subjected to mental harassment.

Prakash noted that there were complaints that persons without required qualifications and registration with the Nurses and Midwives Council were being employed as nurses. This not only caused harm to the appointees but also jeopardised the safety of patients.

He said that the committee was being appointed to look into the extent of these social problems but also to recommend remedial measures including legislation.

(News agency)