FLIGHT OF GOD'S OWN ANGELS DEEPENS INDIA'S HEALTH WOES
Mint Mumbai|February 12, 2024
Long hours, poor working conditions, and miserable pay are driving nurses to distant shores
Nidheesh M.K.
FLIGHT OF GOD'S OWN ANGELS DEEPENS INDIA'S HEALTH WOES

In the bustling corridors of a hospital in Kerala, the pulse of patient care never seems to slow down. Amid the controlled chaos, Jilsna Jose, a nurse in the gynecology ward, goes through her daily routine with a blend of precision and compassion. Yet, behind her composed demeanor lies a tale of unhappiness, which will end, she said, only when she quits this "noble, wonderful, and shitty"job.

The biggest of her problems is the lack of money. She slogs more than 12 hours a day, six days a week, yet only earns about ₹20,000 a month, more than half of which goes into repaying the loan she took to study nursing in a private college.

Jose's day starts with checking the inventory and the handover of patient data from nurses in the previous shift. Then she proceeds to accompany the doctors on their rounds. Every day, the hospital handles about 10 deliveries and discharges, for which she must prepare the documentation. By then, it'll be lunchtime, but sometimes she skips lunch to indent medicines for patients so she can leave soon after her shift.

But often, there are emergencies. Like a mother seeing blood in her breast milk, a baby in the neonatal ICU developing a fever, or a child running around the corridor getting burned by hot water. And despite all that the nurses do to keep the hospital running smoothly, she said she has never received a word of thanks from the hospital staff or patients. Worse, she's dismayed by the indignity meted out at times. She was threatened with physical assault just recently, by the father of a patient.

Esta historia es de la edición February 12, 2024 de Mint Mumbai.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición February 12, 2024 de Mint Mumbai.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE MINT MUMBAIVer todo
Mint Mumbai

Premium the watchword for SBI as Q2 profits surge

Chairman says the bank will compete on quality of service, not on deposit rates

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
India eyes grants, loans for Global South at COP29
Mint Mumbai

India eyes grants, loans for Global South at COP29

India plans to leverage its climate commitments to pitch for grants and concessional loans, instead of investments for the Global South, at the upcoming climate negotiations in Baku, two people aware of the matter said.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Tata Steel's Q2 show weighed down by slow Europe revival
Mint Mumbai

Tata Steel's Q2 show weighed down by slow Europe revival

The September quarter (Q2FY25) earnings of Tata Steel Ltd had its share of positives even as European operations remain a drag.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Spectre of fall in revenue nixes telecom levy cut
Mint Mumbai

Spectre of fall in revenue nixes telecom levy cut

Indian telecom service providers' hopes to get relief from levies on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) might get dashed on the Union finance ministry's revenue concerns, according to two senior officials close to the discussions.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Zomato, Swiggy face CCI heat on antitrust violation
Mint Mumbai

Zomato, Swiggy face CCI heat on antitrust violation

An investigation by India's antitrust body found food delivery giants Zomato and SoftBank-backed Swiggy breached competition laws, with their business practices favouring select restaurants listed on their platforms, documents show.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Trump enters just as the Fed is shifting its focus
Mint Mumbai

Trump enters just as the Fed is shifting its focus

With its second consecutive interest-rate cut this year, the Federal Reserve is attempting to boost the odds of a soft landing.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Regulator gets staff to enforce drug quality
Mint Mumbai

Regulator gets staff to enforce drug quality

The govt is planning to fill 250 new positions to strengthen enforcement

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Mint Mumbai

Govt unveils scheme for meditech industry

The government on Friday launched a scheme aimed at strengthening the medical devices industry with an initial outlay of ₹500 crore for three years 2024-2025 to 2026-27.

time-read
1 min  |
November 09, 2024
Mint Mumbai

RATAN TATA MADE INDIA A BETTER, KINDER PLACE

Shri Ratan Tata's support for the Swachh Bharat Mission was close to my heart

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Ministry cancels allocation of coal block to JSW Steel
Mint Mumbai

Ministry cancels allocation of coal block to JSW Steel

The Union coal ministry has annulled the allocation of the Banai-Bhalumunda coal block in Chhattisgarh to Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel over the non-payment of a performance bank guarantee worth about ₹1,000 crore.

time-read
1 min  |
November 09, 2024