Kerala private sector nurses’ strike disrupts hospital services; protests in Kozhikode

The functioning of major private hospitals in Kozhikode, Kerala, was disrupted on Monday, March 9, 2026, following a strike call by United Nurses Association (UNA) members demanding better pay and other benefits. The nurses demanded a basic monthly wage of ₹40,000.

The strike is part of the state-wide agitation carried out by UNA. Although the Kerala government recently revised the salary structure of nurses working in private hospitals, UNA claimed that some hospitals were not willing to implement it.

Members of the United Nurses Association stage a dharna in front of Kozhikode District Collection on Monday. | Video Credit: K. Ragesh

In Kozhikode, the strike affected the services of major hospitals such as Baby Memorial Hospital (BMH), where a large number of nurses remained away from work. A section of nursing staff also staged a protest outside BMH, claiming that UNA employees were being threatened and mistreated by management representatives. UNA district officer Jishnu Ashok alleged that some of the newly joined nursing staff were locked in rooms and forced to attend duty.

UNA officials also claimed that the strike has been completed in other city hospitals like Iqraa Hospital, Aster MIMS Hospital, Meitra Hospital, Fathima Hospital, Malabar Hospitals and Red Crescent Hospital, Feroke and Santhi Hospital, Omassery.

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According to sources, some hospitals are relying on auxiliary nursing staff to manage the situation as critical procedures such as major surgeries scheduled for that day cannot be postponed.

The striking nurses also staged a dharna in front of the District Collection Office. Minister of Public Works and Tourism PA Mohamed Riyas, who passed in front of the Collectorate building to open the widened Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu Road, was booed by some protesters.

Mr. Ashok said the protest will continue in the coming days if their demands are not met.

Meanwhile, district leaders of the Kerala Private Hospitals Association said that no talks are currently taking place to resolve the crisis.