‘Health Ministry to review new by-law after nurses, midwives threaten strike’

AMMAN — The Ministry of Health on Tuesday promised to review the new specialisations by-law for nursing and midwifery, after medical staff threatened to strike over the new regulations. 

Jordan Nurses and Midwives Association (JNMA) President Mohammad Hatamleh said he had met with Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab, and that the minister had promised to review the by-law to guarantee the interests of nurses and midwives.

The meeting followed Hatamleh’s announcement on Monday that nurses and midwives would go on an open strike on August 1 until the by-law was scrapped. 

The by-law, issued in line with the Jordanian Nursing Council Law, aims to organise the issuance of specialisation licences and the levels of technical categories for nurses and midwives.

“We will follow up with the government before next Monday and if we do not find a real intention to cooperate, the strike will take place,” said Hatamleh. 

Under the by-law, only nurses and midwives with practice permits from the Health Ministry and membership of professional syndicates can apply for specialisation licences.

The licence is valid for three years and must be renewed in accordance with the regulations issued by the nursing council, which holds exams before issuing licences.

“[The new by-law] would make nurses vulnerable to exploitation by private companies which offer training [for the exams],” said the association president.

Hatamleh added that the association was against the by-law because it would deprive nurses of promotion and did not take into account their academic degrees.

Some articles in the by-law were ambiguous and should be clarified, he added.