Thrissur archbishop defends hospitals against nurses’ strike 

THRISSUR, Kerala (Indian Catholic News) — Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur clarified the archdiocese’s stance on the nurses’ strike, defending its affordable church-run healthcare while rejecting workplace agitations and “continuous vilification” by interested parties. 

“Healthcare has always been one of the most vital fields of the Church’s mission,” Archbishop Thazhath said, addressing widespread reports regarding the church’s healthcare institutions.  

The Syro Malabar Synod had already condemned what it described as personal attacks against Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur during the ongoing labour dispute involving church-run Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute and Amala Institute of Medical Sciences in Thrissur, Kerala state. 

Jubilee Mission Hospital and Amala Hospital “were established with the objective of providing high-quality medical treatment to the public at an affordable cost” and continue operating “without deviating from this founding objective”.

“This is the sole reason why ordinary people seek treatment at these two hospitals in large numbers,” he noted, adding that “our mission hospitals also play a significant role in keeping healthcare costs in private hospitals within Thrissur district under control”.  

Addressing healthcare concessions, he emphasized that “it is unlikely that anyone with a conscience would deny the countless medical concessions that Jubilee and Amala have provided to destitute patients since their inception”.

He noted that “every year, our two hospitals allocate crores of rupees under various heads to bring relief to the underprivileged”.  

Regarding worker wages, the archbishop explained that as “a pillar of support for low-income earners, it goes without saying that the remuneration rates of those working here cannot be increased arbitrarily outside established norms”.

He added that “Jubilee and Amala remain among the hospitals in Kerala’s private sector that consistently pay the highest wages to nurses”.  

He cautioned against placing burdens on patients: “We cannot justify placing an additional financial burden on the thousands of ordinary patients seeking treatment here, thereby causing them distress”.

“We can only adopt measures that ensure the welfare of dutifully dedicated nurses whilst keeping treatment accessible to poor patients at affordable rates”.  

Archdiocese responds to strike agitations 

Local media reported that nurses affiliated with the United Nurses Association protested outside the Thrissur archdiocesan headquarters after talks over wage demands.

The union has been on strike for three months at Jubilee Mission and Amala hospitals, seeking to raise the minimum monthly salary to 40,000 rupees ($470). That strike concluded in August after extensive labour department mediation. 

Addressing the current labour dispute, Archbishop Thazhath condemned the recent actions. “The agitation conducted by the UNA in workplaces…alongside the continuous vilification and false propaganda propagated by interested parties through the media, can never be justified,” he stated.  

Looking ahead, the archbishop called  “to counter the efforts to vilify, defame, and dismantle the Archdiocese of Thrissur and its mission hospitals, “in the July 4 circular published in the August issue of the archdiocesan bulletin. 

“I remind everyone once again that we must work together to ensure the welfare of nurses serving dutifully in the healthcare sector, and to safeguard the essential healthcare facilities currently available to the majority of ordinary people at affordable rates,” he added. 

Full statement available: original Malayalam and AI‑generated English translation.