SC to Centre: Set up panel for nurses' grievances

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to set up within four weeks an expert committee to look into the grievances pertaining to service conditions of nurses employed with private hospitals and private nursing homes across the country.

A three-judge Bench, headed by Justice AR Dave, also asked the Centre to consider making a law based on the recommendations which would be given to it by the expert committee on the issue.

The Bench, then disposed of the petition filed by a nurses' body seeking various reliefs to ensure welfare of nurses working with private medical care institutions. The directions came on the plea filed by Trained Nurses' Association of India (TNAI), seeking various reliefs, including framing of guidelines for private hospitals and nursing homes to prevent them from retaining original certificates of nurses at the time of their employment.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the court may frame guidelines as health was a state subject, the Centre may not make a law to regulate the service conditions of nurses across the country.