Sunday, 15 March 2015
Press Release
Health Correspondent/City editor
PRESS
RELEASE
Date: 10.03.2015
Today,
on 10 March, nurses of government hospitals in Delhi, leaders of some nursing
associations associated with private hospitals as well as representatives from
women’s organizations held a meeting at Lady Harding Nurses Hostel. Mrs.
Khurana, Secretary General, Delhi Nurses Union, in association with Mr Santosh
(a nurse pursuing research from Jawaharlal Nehru University) initiated the
meeting on the agenda of uniting the larger nursing community on common
concerns/issues, pressurizing the central government to roll back the deduction
in 2015 health budget and working towards better public healthcare in the
country.
The
meeting began with a discussion on why nurses (in the clinical field) should
unite against the new recruitment rules for nurses in government hospitals that
were being pushed through despite protest from unions like Delhi Nurses Union
(DNU). The points of concern regarding the new recruitment rules include reduction
in the maximum age limit from 35 years to 30 years. This has been perceived as
a huge attack on the nursing community, especially in the context of delayed
recruitment in government hospitals, steady contractualization of nursing jobs
and the fact that candidates can enrol in nursing courses like B.Sc. Nursing up
till the age of 25 and even 27 years in some cases.
As
pointed out in the discussion, it was also highly problematic that the new
recruitment rules require 6 months to 2.5 year experience in a 50-bedded
hospital. Arguing against such a qualification, Maya John from Centre for
Struggling Women (CSW) argued that it would press more qualified nurses into
the clutches of private hospitals, who by force would have to work in private
hospitals to gain the minimum experience to apply to government hospitals.
The
nurses, nursing unions and nursing associations present also discussed the need
to enhance social responsibility of nurses towards enhancing public healthcare.
Mr Santosh emphasized the need to change the strategy of future
struggles from “WE NURSES” approach to “WE THE HEALTH WORKERS” approach
so as to force the government to recognize and respect the profession. He also
drew attention to the need of uniting all nurses under one umbrella
organization in true spirit with Nurses Day on 12 May; properly assessing
nurses and nursing educators’ condition across the country;forming a National
advocacy team to spread awareness of health workers’ struggles and concerns and
working towards a Nursing Census 2015.
The
meeting concluded with present members agreeing to celebrate Nurses Day under a
common banner with representation of leaders from different states and to use
the occasion of Nurses Day to pressurize the central government to review its
health policy and recruitment rules.
Participants:
Delhi Nurses Union, DPNA, G.B. Pant
Nurses Union, IPNA, Lady Hardinge Nurses Union,
Centre
for Struggling Women, and others
Meeting organised by Lady Harding Hospital Nurses Association
MINUTES OF MEETING
A meeting was held at Lady Harding Nurses Hostel on
10th March 2015 at around 11.30 AM
which was called by Mrs. Khurana, Secretary general, Delhi Nurses Union
in association with Mr. Santosh.
1.
Mrs.
Khurana started the meeting by greeting
all the Nurse’s representatives present . She briefed the current situation and
problem mainly the New RR issue starting from 26th November 2014 to
till date.
2.
She stressed the
importance of being United and asked the members present regarding forming a
Confederation/association which brings all associations/unions/each individual
Nurses under one umbrella. She also explained what is the need of the hour and
why we need to be united.
3.
Mrs. Khurana
then handed over the statge to Mr. Santosh. Briefed about the history of
recruitment, Nurses recruited as contractual workers I,e since 1990 to till
date by giving example of NRHM and present scenario in Karnataka state. He explained
regarding the present status of Nursing schools and colleges in India.
4.
Shared his experience
about his visit to European Countries and told how the Brazilian model is
regarded as Best module in present day and their approach towards Social
responsibility and urged to change our views from
“WE NURSS to WE THE HEALTH WORKERS” so that we can
bargain and force the Govt to recognize and respect us. He pressed on “BUILD
OUSELVES, SUPPORT OTHERS AND BUILD THE NATION” module.
5.
He put forth
some of the important issues such as, a] Reclaiming of TNAI posts once again by
clinicians as the TNAI members have shown their total negligence towards
clinical Nurses. B] Nurses to be recruited on Administrative posts. C] asked
why the Diploma nurses can’t be given graduation as other sector students are
being given (B.A, B.Sc etc)
6.
He proposed some
of the works, those needs urgent attention A] Uniting all nurses under one
umbrella. B] Knowing nurses existences today in India. C] Formation of National
advocacy team D] Nursing Census 2015.
7.
Proposed 10.1
Theory where he explained how each one of us if spends 10 minutes per day and 0.1%
of our salary towards our profession helps in uplifting the standards as well
as helps in achieving the goals.
8.
Ms. Maya from
CSW explained the importance of time limits to be adopted in bringing all association
(Govt as well as Pvt) under one Umbrella and asked to confirm from 9th
to 12th May as 12th May is Nurse’s Day and Parliament is
in session so we can be best heard…
9.
Mr. Lalchandani
raised some doubts regarding the difference in problems faced by Govt, Pvt and
rural nurses and also the problems may arise in the near future.. and he as
been answered by Mrs. Khurana, Mr. Santosh and Ms. Maya..
10.
Mr. Shijo presented his views on behalf of DPNA,
and Mr. Arun from IPNA raised the importance of being united.
11.
Lastly the members are being asked their
opinion regarding the observing the Nurse’s Day under the banner of DNU in
Delhi by voice vote, then all the members present agreed unanimously for the
same..
12.
Then Mrs. Khurana decided in the meeting that
the conference on 9th and 10th of May 2015 will be held
under the banner of DNU and invitation will be sent to all leaders across India to come and
present their success, and views and the same will be submitted to the Govt on
12th May.
13.
Lastly it is decided, another meeting will be
held on 17th March for preparations regarding the proposed Nurses
Day celebration/ conference on 9th and 10th of May.(
venue need to be confirmed)..
Inception of Idea on 20.02.2015
Dear all,
There was
think tank meeting at Dr.RML hospital from 11am -1pm to brainstorm the strategies
for collective bargaining of our demands at macro level and strengthen the
heath system. The floor decided to celebrate Nurses Day 2015 to build a draft
of Healthy Nation 2030. Details of there draft will be discussed on larger
group in last week of February or first week of March 2015. Thanks for all your
presence and thoughts.
Sincerely
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