Nursing Council meeting not being held; delay in issuing duplicate certificates causing distress to nurses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the election process is in progress in the State Nursing Council, emergency services are being denied to nurses without holding a council meeting on time. Those who applied for a duplicate to replace their lost Nursing Council registration certificate are in crisis. Those who have to go abroad to work and those who are coming back from countries abroad to join government jobs in the state are rushing around due to this.

A decision has not been taken on the 50 applications received in the last three months. The last council meeting was held in December, and duplicate certificates were granted then. It is reported that the authorities are of the opinion that the council meeting should not be held in the meantime as the election process is underway.

The election results are to be declared on July 4. If the meeting is not held till then, hundreds of nurses will lose their job opportunities in the country and abroad.

The applications were submitted by those who had lost their certificates due to various reasons. Exit visas can be obtained from foreign countries only if there is a registration certificate.

Director of Health Department currently in charge

After the term of the current council has expired, the government has appointed Director of Health Department Dr K.J. Reena as the ex-officio president. This is to ensure that the daily affairs of the council are not disrupted. Still, it is alleged that the meeting is not being held.

Fee for duplicate Rs 10,000

If the certificate is lost, a complaint should be filed with the police. Advertisement should also be given in the newspaper.

To apply for a duplicate, the council has to be paid Rs 10,000. The council has received Rs 5 lakh from 50 applications.

Duplicates are issued after the applicants are called to the council meeting. Those abroad can also be heard online.