A plea has been filed in Delhi High Court seeking a change in the nomenclature of the nursing personnel working in private hospitals as done for nurses working in government hospitals.
The plea is filed by Indian Professional Nurses Association through Advocate Jose Abraham alleges till date no step taken by the authorities for change in Nomenclature in the Nursing Personnel working in private hospitals.
The plea points out that on September 9, 2016, the Centre issued directions for changing the nomenclature of the nursing personnel in government hospitals from “Staff Nurse” to “Nursing Officer”.
“The said change in nomenclature is an honor that is being bestowed on the nurses, in recognition for their services to the society,” states the plea.
Alleging that such selective selection is discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, the plea avers that- “Nurses both in private and government hospital are engaged in service of great public importance, i.e. providing healthcare support and as such have equal contribution towards the welfare of society at large.”
It says, “the nursing community in its entirety is the backbone of our countries healthcare system. The Nursing communities during the present time of COVID-19 global pandemic has shown great dedication and devotion and has helped the public at large in dealing with the pandemic.”
In light of the above, the plea prays for a change in the nomenclature of the nursing personnel working in the private hospitals to “nursing officer” as has been done with respect to the government hospitals.
The plea reads thus: “Giving one category of nurses certain entitlement and depriving another category, i.e. the ones who are working in the private hospitals, amount to discrimination.”
“The said act by the Respondent creates a special privilege for a certain group of persons belonging from the same profession while denying the rest of the said privilege and is thus, arbitrary and devoid of any logic,” the plea adds further