Sassoon General Hospital, a key healthcare institution, faced disruptions in critical medical and nursing services on Thursday as nurses participated in a day-long, state-wide strike organized by government employees. The strike, which impacted some essential healthcare operations, was called off later in the evening, but concerns linger over its effects on patient care.
The walkout, which drew participation from nearly 70,000 state government employees in Pune’s city and district, aimed to advocate for the reinstatement of the former pension plan (OPS) and addressed various demands of government workers. While the strike was a collective effort with around 17 lakh workers from 35 unions, it sparked disruptions in crucial services, including surgeries and patient care, at Sassoon Hospital.
The hospital management assured that the strike did not compromise the quality of care provided to patients. However, only thirty percent of the nurses responsible for vital tasks such as monitoring patients’ care, administering injections or medications, and tending to wounds or dressing them were available on Thursday.
To mitigate the impact, Sassoon Hospital called in six nurses from Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital in Pimpri to assist in the care of five critically injured female employees involved in an illegal sparkling candle unit fire on December 8 in Talawade. Despite efforts, the hospital could only complete five surgeries, significantly fewer than the usual daily average of twenty to twenty-five elective and emergency surgeries.
The primary reasons behind the strike were issues related to the old pension plan and various demands put forth by government employees. While the strike was called off, its repercussions on healthcare services and the broader implications for government workers’ demands remain a subject of discussion.
