Kerala private sector nurses go on strike; services at 490 hospitals and clinics hit

Hundreds of nurses employed in the private health sector in Kerala went on strike on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) demanding higher pay, improved staffing levels to reduce workload, a better patient-caregiver ratio, and an end to alleged arbitrary lay-offs, chiefly of those involved in union activities. 

The United Nurses Association (UNA), which has called the strike, represents a majority of nurses working in as many as 490 private hospitals, including clinics, in the State.

The nurses have demanded a basic monthly pay of ₹40,000. The UNA has accused the government of turning a blind eye to the plight of nurses who work long hours for less than the minimum wage. It noted that most private hospitals were chronically understaffed, leading to increased workloads and inferior patient care. 

The UNA accused the government of being hand in glove with “labour exploiters” in private health care. The association said wages have stagnated since 2019. The government remained silent and has put no pressure on private hospitals to revise wages, despite several High Court orders, it said.

The UNA said nurses had staged a token protest on February 21 to no avail. It warned of an indefinite strike if the government did not address their issues.

Nurses have also demanded the implementation of the Dr. Balaram and Jagdish Prasad Committee reports. 

The UNA demanded UGC scales for nursing college teachers and that private hospitals improve the patient-nurse ratio for better care.