Over 30,000 Maharashtra Nurses Call For Indefinite State-Wide Strike Over Unmet Demands; Hospitals In Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur Take Hit (VIDEO)

Mumbai: Nurses across Maharashtra have initiated an indefinite state-wide strike, continuing a protest against contractual recruitment policies enacted by the medical education department on June 6. This decisive move echoes a successful strike by the Maharashtra State Nursing Association (MSNA) over demands led to the cessation of contractual nursing jobs.

Currently, over 30,000 nurses from major government hospitals and public health centres have halted services, with grievances centred on the demand for permanent recruitment, an increase in allowances, and the filling of vacant nursing posts to alleviate workload pressures.

Why Are Nurses Striking In Maharashtra

The initially two-day strike escalated over unresolved issues, especially wage discrepancies and inadequate staffing, with half of the nursing positions unfilled. Sumitra Tote, MNSA secretary, noted that nurses faced challenges during the pandemic, often taking multiple jobs due to unstable contracts.

The association demands rectification of salary inequalities, increased stipends for nursing students, and higher government allowances for nurses. Attempts to negotiate with state ministers have been disrupted, intensifying the unrest. In Pune, around 345 nurses at Sassoon General Hospital participated in the strike, causing public concern over disrupted admissions, although hospital services were largely maintained.

Strike Hits Operations In Hospitals

The situation in Nagpur at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Mayo Hospital reflected similar challenges, with hundreds of nurses striking in protest of pay anomalies under the 7th Pay Commission. This action led to the postponement of numerous surgeries, aggravating concerns regarding patient care as no agreement was reached in ongoing discussions. The MSNA’s call for an indefinite strike followed earlier protests and sit-ins, which garnered no tangible results.

Data from the hospitals showed a significant decrease in scheduled surgeries due to the strike. For instance, the GMCH ophthalmology department typically conducts over 25 surgeries daily but faced a major drop. Major surgeries fell from a usual 75-80 to just 25, and elective procedures were postponed or cancelled across various departments.

Mayo Hospital utilised temporary measures by deploying nurses from a private nursing institution to minimise disruption but still faced surgery delays in several areas.

As the indefinite strike continues, the MSNA remains resolute in its demands, advocating for the complete recruitment of permanent staff and a reassessment of salary disparities affecting nursing professionals across the state.