Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) is set to face disruptions in healthcare services as nurses from the Maharashtra State Nurses Association (MSNA) declared an indefinite strike beginning Friday. With around 40,000 nurses from government hospitals across the state, including 1,000 from SGH, joining the protest, the impact on patient care is expected to be substantial.
The MSNA, in letters addressed to key authorities, including the district civil surgeon, the dean of BJ Medical College, the dean of SGH, and the Maharashtra Medical Education Commissioner, outlined their demands. The association is calling for the discontinuation of contractual appointments for nurses, the continuation of benefits from the previous pension plan, and an increase in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. Among other demands is the insistence on providing full-time employment to all contractual nurses and an immediate fill-up of open positions in the nursing department to prevent increased workloads and a decline in the standard of care.
A senior MSNA official stated that the nurses would continue their indefinite strike until their demands are met, emphasizing their desire to raise the retirement age to 60 and secure pension benefits. The challenging work environment was highlighted, with two nurses currently managing 80 patients in one ward at SGH.
In response to the strike, Sassoon Hospital officials held a meeting on Monday to explore alternative arrangements. They have decided to enlist the support of paramedics, clinical staff, trainee physicians, and nurses during the walkout. To mitigate service interruptions, the hospital plans to reach out to municipal corporations and medical colleges to request additional staff.
