Maharashtra Government Nurses Strike Enters Second Day, Severely Disrupting Pune's Sassoon Hospital Operations
The ongoing strike by Maharashtra government employees, including a significant contingent of nurses, entered its second day on Wednesday, intensifying the strain on healthcare services at Pune's state-run Sassoon General Hospital (SGH). The protest has led to a dramatic reduction in new patient admissions and planned surgical procedures, creating a critical situation at one of the district's largest tertiary care facilities.
Hospital Administration Scrambles to Mitigate Staff Shortage
With more than half of the nursing staff participating in the strike, hospital authorities have been forced to take emergency measures. Dr. Eknath Pawar, Dean of BJ Medical College and SGH, confirmed that the institution has issued formal requests to multiple organizations for temporary nursing support.
"We are uncertain about the strike's duration, so we have proactively reached out to the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, the deputy director of health services, civil surgeon of Pune, district health officer, regional mental hospital, Ruby Hall Clinic, and Symbiosis Nursing College," Dr. Pawar stated. "Our goal is to secure additional nurses to address the severe staffing deficit. Simultaneously, we have issued notices to our striking nurses, warning of potential disciplinary action if they do not return to work."
Significant Drop in Surgical Procedures and Admissions
Out of approximately 900 nurses typically deployed at SGH, over 600 remained absent on Wednesday, directly impacting medical services. Dr. Yallapa Jadhav, Medical Superintendent at SGH, provided specific data highlighting the decline.
"Between 8 AM and 4 PM on Wednesday, we managed only 87 admissions, 26 major operations, and 28 minor operations," Dr. Jadhav reported. "In the past 24 hours, we recorded 12 deliveries, including eight Caesarean sections. Our outpatient department (OPD) saw 1,387 patients, while the inpatient department (IPD) handled 1,022."
These figures represent a substantial decrease compared to normal operations. Typically, SGH processes around 192 daily admissions, performs 46 major surgeries and 166 minor surgeries each day, and handles over 1,555 OPD patients and 1,081 IPD patients on average.
Deliveries Halved as Hospital Relies on Nursing Students
The strike has particularly affected maternity services, with daily deliveries dropping from an average of 25 to just 12 on Wednesday—a reduction of more than 50%. To manage the existing patient load, Sassoon Hospital has enlisted nearly 300 nursing college students as temporary replacements.
Despite this stopgap measure, new patient admissions continue to be severely hampered. The hospital's capacity to provide comprehensive care has been significantly compromised, raising concerns about patient welfare.
Strike Demands and Broader Impact
The nurses are participating in a statewide protest organized by the Maharashtra State Government Employees Confederation (MSGEC). Their key demands include the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and an increase in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.
Interestingly, other major hospitals in the region, such as Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital and Aundh District Hospital, reported minimal disruption to patient care despite the nurses' strike. This contrast underscores the varying impact across different healthcare facilities in Pune.
The situation at Sassoon Hospital remains fluid, with administrators closely monitoring developments and preparing for potential extended strike action. Patients and their families are advised to seek alternative arrangements for non-emergency medical needs until normal services resume.
