KOCHI: The Qualified Private Medical Practitioners’ and Hospitals’ Association (QPMPA) has termed the Balaraman Committee report on wage reforms for nurses as ‘biased and impractical’ during the association’s annual conference here. At the meeting, a discussion was organised on the Balaraman Committee report. The speakers opposed the demands put forward by the Balaraman Committee and said that if implemented, the revised wages can turn out to be a threat to the very existence of private hospitals.
The members demanded the government to appoint an expert committee to study the working of private hospitals and their staff before revising the wages of employees. The association said that private hospitals will continue to give training to applicants with or without remuneration, but not minimum wages.
It also demanded that harassment from drug inspectors and labour officers are brought to the notice of the authorities concerned. Moreover, notifications like salary payments through bank, Shop Act, drug licence and VAT registration should not be insisted as they are not binding on the hospitals, the association pointed out. Dr M A Koya was elected state president of the QPMPA. Dr Janardhanan and Dr Mammen were elected secretary and treasurer respectively. V D Satheesan MLA inaugurated the closing ceremony. Dr Koya presided over the function and national president Dr O Baby released the souvenir. The conference evaluated various charity initiatives undertaken by the QPMPA.
The association aims to strengthen its membership and widen the activities in future. The new state and zonal-level committee members were also elected.