FOREIGN NURSES - THEIR EMPLOYMENT IS UP IN THE AIR - PARTIES BACKED DOWN AFTER REACTIONS OF THE UNIONS - Filenews 13/3 by Marilena Panayi
The parliamentary parties chose not to bear the burden of the reactions of the trade unions, which, at the level of the parliamentary committee on Health, decided yesterday that they would not discuss again the amendments of the Ministry of Health aimed at facilitating the employment of nurses from third countries.
In fact, during the consultation between them, the parties pointed out the fact that there are strong reactions on the part of the trade unions and therefore the Parliament is not in a position to take responsibility for the failure to reach an agreement between the bodies involved, in the middle of an election period.
The new quarrel over whether or not there is a shortage of nurses in Cyprus and whether or not foreign nurses from hospitals and other health service structures can be employed, began on the occasion of the resubmission to the Parliament, by the Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambides, of the two amendments to the legislation that actually aim to meet the needs, Mainly the private health sector, which has been facing a serious problem of understaffing for months due to the lack of qualified nurses available for employment.
The Minister of Health, according to information from "F", had informed the official bodies of nurses of his specific intention from Tuesday in order to avoid new reactions.
As it turns out, the reactions were not avoided, the unions issued a statement early yesterday morning opening fire against the Minister, while the students of the CUT Nursing School took to the streets protesting demanding the assurance of the level of nursing care in Cyprus.
In their announcement, the nursing bodies spoke of an "unprecedented, arbitrary and unilateral decision" of the Minister "to hastily submit to the Parliament an amendment to the 'Nursing and Midwifery Law'. Of particular concern is the intention to import nursing staff from third countries, without the necessary assurance of qualifications and language proficiency. This approach may jeopardize patient safety and lead to the depreciation of the nursing profession in Cyprus."
In fact, the unions warn that "this action will create serious obstacles to the professional rehabilitation of new nursing graduates from universities in Cyprus and Greece, who are at risk of facing unemployment or immigration".
In the same vein, the announcements of the students of the School of Nursing of CUT who stated that "the import of nurses from third countries may create a series of problems. Among them, is the possible downward pressure on the salaries and working conditions of nurses, the weakening of professional prospects for new graduates, but also the risk of further emigration of Cypriot nurses abroad."
Following yesterday's developments, the promotion of the amendments in the Plenary for a vote before the dissolution of Parliament will depend on the stance taken by the parties in the coming days, although as it became clear from yesterday's discussion, the possibility is rather remote.
However, the reaction of private hospitals and bodies representing other structures providing health services in the private sector and waiting for the green light from the Parliament to proceed with the employment of nurses to meet the requirements of the law regulating their operation must be considered certain.
It is recalled that already on the part of rehabilitation centers which, based on the legislation, are entitled to submit applications for their licensing by the Ministry of Health, relevant statements had been made in the previous period as they cannot, as they claim, locate the required number of nurses to be staffed on the basis of the requirements of the law.
