Mumbai: Healthcare services in all state-run hospitals across Maharashtra are likely to be severely impacted as over 30,000 nurses are set to launch an indefinite strike starting July 18. The strike is being called by the Maharashtra State Nurses Association in protest against the government's continued neglect of contract-based nurses.
According to the union, the root of the agitation lies in the state’s decision to appoint nurses on a contractual basis instead of filling permanent posts. Sumitra Tote, General Secretary of the Maharashtra State Nurses Association, said that 50% of nursing positions in existing government hospitals are lying vacant, and the burden is increasing on current staff.
“Each medical college and hospital needs around 500 nurses. Even now, the existing colleges are managing with just 500 nurses. No new nurses have been appointed for the 10 newly launched medical colleges, resulting in an additional workload on the already overburdened staff,” she said. The union has also strongly opposed the government’s move to fill these vacancies through temporary contracts instead of permanent recruitment.
Warning of Escalation
The union has announced a phased protest plan. Nurses will hold sit-in protests at Azad Maidan on July 15 and 26. A one-day strike will be observed on July 17. If the government fails to act on their demands by then, over 30,000 nurses will go on an indefinite strike from July 18.
Healthcare services across Maharashtra could be paralyzed if the strike goes ahead, especially in critical care and inpatient departments of government hospitals, which heavily depend on nursing staff. The union has urged the state to stop the contractual hiring process and expedite the recruitment of permanent nurses to safeguard public healthcare delivery.
