Despite a high-level meeting chaired by the Public Health Minister in Mumbai, negotiations between the Maharashtra State Nurses Association (MSNA) and the government failed to bring any resolution, prompting nurses across government hospitals in the city to continue their indefinite strike for the fifth straight day.
Nurses from Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), Superspecialty Hospital, Daga Hospital, and the Government Ayurveda Hospital are actively participating in the agitation led by MSNA.
Initially launched as a symbolic protest on July 17, the movement escalated into a full-scale indefinite strike on July 18 after multiple appeals to state authorities were met with inaction.
MSNA has raised a range of long-standing issues, including irregularities in the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, delayed promotions, and stalled recruitment to permanent posts. A key flashpoint remains the state government’s recent notification allowing contractual hiring of nurses, which the association argues undermines job security and the quality of healthcare services.
Additionally, the nurses’ union has raised concerns over gender imbalance in recruitment. The current 80:20 female-to-male ratio has sparked criticism, with the association demanding a 50:50 merit-based recruitment system. “Employment should depend on qualifications, not gender,” MSNA members asserted.
While the nurses have reiterated their willingness to resume work if the government offers concrete assurances, they remain steadfast in their demands. Until a resolution is achieved, the protest is set to continue.
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