Hotel staffs' on a busy run to grab health cards

TRIVANDRUM: Hotel employees are running amok in search of health cards. The government made it mandatory for the hotel staff to carry a health card to make it a certitude that the hotels work in their hygiene best. The rule is in place since 2011, but only a few hotel staff labored to get the card. With just six days remaining for getting the health cards, the hotel staffs, mostly from other states, are quite in a quandary with no idea where to reach out for.

Any medical practitioner can issue a health card. A physical examination by a doctor is needed to issue health cards to staff. The laborers mostly approach government hospitals since the private ones levy an additional charge for issuing cards. Nowadays, hotel staffs queue up in front of the Pettah health center to give blood samples that are required for the health card. If the hair is long, the staff will be advised by the doctors to wear caps while working to prevent any contagious diseases. The health card issuing will close on February 1.