The undeclared recruitment ban has gripped the ranks lists of nurses in the state as well. The Nursing Officer Grade - 2 rank list came into existence two years ago, meanwhile, only ten percent of the candidates were appointed from it. Lack of vacancies is not the reason for this. Shortage of nurses in government hospitals is a big problem. The health department is also aware of this but no action is being taken to appoint nurses. The District Medical Officers were supposed to report the vacancies to the PSC but they did not do so, probably because of instructions from 'the top'. Vacancies are not notified and promotion of nurses, which should normally take place, is delayed, resulting in no vacancies. Had the promotion been done properly, more than 1200 nurses would have been newly appointed. Promotion in the field of nursing has been halted for seven years. This is the case in many departments and not just hospital appointments. The main reason for this is the financial condition of the government. Those who are appointed should be paid monthly without delay. Money should reach the treasury for that to happen in current circumstances. With the Centre also closing off avenues for further lending, the state government is struggling. It is an unannounced decision of the government not to make any new appointments, which will increase the cost, for the time being.

Even though the government is financially strapped, hospitals still require nurses to take care of patients, administer medicine, etc. Government hospitals are still working on the staff pattern of six decades ago. The accepted requirement is that there should be one nurse for every four patients in the wards but there is only one nurse for every hundred patients. This is a clear violation of the requirement. This is also the reason why government hospitals are often conflict-ridden. There does not seem to be a single government hospital where there is not a constant complaint of not getting enough if not even the required care.

It is a blessing to many that Malayali nurses now have better opportunities in foreign countries as well. Many young women and men are waiting for jobs after earning nursing degrees by taking loans and mortgaging their homes. Getting a job in government hospitals is the biggest desire of most of them. There will be an opportunity to move abroad later, on the strength of the work experience, but all of that will be possible only if the appointments are made. Boasting that we are ahead in the health index is just not enough. Only if the government hospitals, which are depended on by the common man, are fully equipped with doctors and nurses, can the people get the services they want. Recruitment of nurses should not be stopped due to financial constraints. Not a hundred or thousand but more than 7,000 people in the rank list have been waiting for two years. The government should also consider the condition of lakhs of patients seeking treatment.