AROUND 100 nurses yesterday threatened they would hand in their elections booklets unless Parliament amended the law on private clinics, which effectively puts them on the same level as untrained nurses, who only have work experience from the clinics.
Around 680 student nurses claim that upgrading older, unqualified nurses would jeopardise their future.
The demonstration was the second this week in a series of measures that has included a two-hour strike and the take-over of the nursing school at Nicosia general hospital.
The point of dispute is the bill on private clinics, which would have brought clinics into line with EU directives. The legislation has twice been sent back to the House by the President as unconstitutional, but despite this the Plenum went ahead, by majority vote, in rejecting the president’s referral last Thursday.
The nurses are hopeful that the President – who has now exhausted his right twice to return the bill to Parliament – will refer the law to the Supreme Court. Failing that, they have expressed their readiness to seek recourse in the European courts.
The nurses shouted slogans against deputies and accused Parliament of violating EU directives and jeopardising their future.
House Chairman Demitris Christofias’ attempts to calm spirits in order to convince protesters to clear the doors for a visit by US Ambassador Michael Klosson, saying the Plenum was seriously studying the issue, did little to convince the nurses to clear the way.
“We are handing in our election booklets and we will not vote in the Euro elections since the law that was passed does not fall in line with the acquis communautaire,” Nurses’ Union leader Kyriacos Ioannou said.
“We are not satisfied with what Mr Christofias said; we will only be satisfied if we have written assurances,” he added.
DIKO deputy and European election candidate Marios Matsakis defended the nurses’ protest, saying the bill was unconstitutional.
“The way that some parties voted at the House is unacceptable,” he said.
“They voted against binding EU directives and against the safety of patients. Parties that voted against the President’s return of the legislation did it only to get votes from unqualified nurses.”
