Pune: Sassoon General Hospital Braces for Service Disruptions As Nurses To Go On Strike From 14th December
Pune, 12th December 2023: Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) is bracing for disruptions in healthcare services, set to commence on Friday, as nurses from the Maharashtra State Nurses Association (MSNA) join an ongoing strike declared on December 14. Approximately 40,000 nurses across all government hospitals in the state, including 1,000 nurses from SGH, are poised to participate in an indefinite strike, rallying behind a range of demands.
Letters detailing the impending protests have been dispatched by the nurse’s association to key authorities, including the district civil surgeon, the dean of BJ Medical College, the dean of SGH, and the Maharashtra Medical Education Commissioner.
The MSNA’s demands, outlined in the letters, include 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. Furthermore, the association advocates for the conversion of all contractual nurses to full-time employment. They stress the urgent need to fill vacant positions in the nursing department to alleviate increased workloads and maintain the standard of care.
A senior MSNA official emphasized that the nurses will persist in their indefinite strike until their demands are met. The core objectives include raising the retirement age to 60 years and securing pension benefits. At SGH, the challenging ratio of two nurses caring for 80 patients in one ward underscores the urgency of the nurses’ demands.
In response to the impending strike, a meeting was convened on Monday, as reported by a Sassoon Hospital official. Contingency plans were discussed, leading to the decision to enlist support from paramedics, clinical staff, trainee physicians, and nurses during the walkout. To ensure uninterrupted services, the hospital will also reach out to municipal corporations and medical colleges to request additional staff.
