Pune hospital struggles as 700+ nurses join indefinite protest; surgeries, admissions severely hit
Pune: The ongoing indefinite strike by Maharashtra government employees, including nurses, has entered its third day, significantly disrupting healthcare services at Sassoon General Hospital. The protest has led to a sharp decline in patient admissions and scheduled surgeries, raising serious concerns over patient care at one of the state’s largest government-run hospitals.
Majority of Nurses Join Strike, Services Affected
Out of nearly 900 nurses at the hospital, at least 748 have joined the agitation, severely impacting routine and emergency medical services. Both major and minor surgical procedures have been disrupted, with hospital authorities struggling to manage operations amid staff shortages.
Dean of BJ Medical College, Dr Eknath Pawar, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that patient care has been adversely affected over the past three days. He emphasized that nurses are the backbone of any tertiary healthcare facility and that relying on nursing students as substitutes is not a sustainable solution due to their limited experience.
Sharp Drop in Surgeries and Admissions
Hospital data reflects the scale of disruption. Between 8 am and 2 pm on Thursday, only 65 patients were admitted, while 16 major and 17 minor surgeries were conducted—far below the usual numbers. In the past 24 hours, the hospital recorded just five deliveries, including three C-sections.
The Outpatient Department (OPD) saw 1,040 patients, while the Inpatient Department (IPD) had 991 patients—both lower than the typical daily averages of over 1,555 OPD visits and 1,081 IPD admissions. On average, the hospital usually performs 46 major and 166 minor surgeries daily, along with admitting around 192 new patients.
Hospital Resorts to Emergency Measures
To cope with the staff shortage, hospital authorities have consolidated patients into fewer wards, leaving several sections temporarily vacant. Despite these measures, the strain on available medical staff continues to grow.
Medical Superintendent Dr Yallapa Jadhav stated that while efforts are being made to manage resources efficiently, the absence of experienced nursing staff is significantly hampering hospital operations.
Talks Fail, Strike Continues
A late-night meeting between government representatives and employee unions, including the Maharashtra State Government Employees Confederation, failed to reach a resolution. As negotiations remain deadlocked, the unions have decided to continue the strike indefinitely.
The protest highlights long-pending demands, including the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and an increase in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.
Healthcare System Under Pressure
With no immediate resolution in sight, the ongoing strike is expected to further strain Maharashtra’s public healthcare system. Patients, particularly those dependent on government hospitals, are bearing the brunt of the disruption as critical services remain affected.
