The ongoing nurses’ strike at Maharashtra’s government hospitals has halted 500 surgeries and turned away thousands at Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital. As the protest for permanent jobs and better conditions continues, patients bear the brunt of delayed care.
Pune | 24 July, 2025: For six days, a nurses’ strike has gripped Maharashtra’s government hospitals, bringing critical healthcare services to a standstill. At Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital (SGH), the impact is profound: nearly 500 major and minor surgeries have been postponed, and around 1,300 new patients have been turned away. The strike, driven by nurses demanding permanent positions and improved working conditions, underscores their vital role in patient care while highlighting the strain on an overburdened healthcare system.
Nurses are the backbone of hospital operations, managing everything from patient records to medication administration, ward hygiene, and dietary coordination. With 400 nurses at SGH joining the protest, the hospital is struggling to function. Emergency and outpatient services are limping along, supported by 100 temporary nurses from private colleges, but scheduled surgeries and new admissions remain heavily disrupted. Patients, many in need of urgent care, are left waiting, their health and hopes hanging in the balance.
The strike’s core issue is the government’s reliance on contractual nurse hiring, a policy the nurses’ union fiercely opposes. They seek job security and better workplace conditions, demands that resonate with countless healthcare workers who feel undervalued despite their critical contributions. While discussions with state officials have occurred, no resolution has emerged, leaving the hospital in a state of limbo. Authorities have promised high-level talks involving top officials, but for now, the deadlock persists.
For the people of Pune, the strike is more than a labor dispute—it’s a healthcare crisis affecting families, the elderly, and those awaiting life-changing surgeries. SGH, a key public hospital, serves a diverse population, many of whom rely on its affordable care. The disruption has forced some to seek costly private alternatives, while others simply wait, uncertain when relief will come. The human toll is evident in the faces of patients turned away and families grappling with delayed treatments.
Efforts to mitigate the crisis are underway, but temporary fixes like borrowing nurses from private institutions are not enough. The situation calls for urgent dialogue and action to address the nurses’ legitimate concerns while restoring hospital services. For Pune’s residents, the hope is for a swift resolution that honors the nurses’ demands and prioritizes patient care. The strike is a reminder of the delicate balance in healthcare, where the well-being of workers and patients is deeply intertwined.
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