The last review of the nursing cadre at the PGIMER happened in 2015. At that time, a proposal was made for 1,500 new nursing posts, keeping in mind the growing shortage of staff (Archive)Under umbrellas and the pouring rain, hundreds of nursing officers of the PGIMER, Chandigarh, stood outside the Kairon Block, in a show of unity and discipline as they participated in a protest on Monday. The protest, under the banner of the PGI Nurses Welfare Association (PGINWA), highlighted concerns regarding delays in promotions, staff shortages, non-nursing duties, and overall stagnation in cadre restructuring.The protest remained peaceful, organised, and was carried out without disrupting patient care, and marked a significant moment in the ongoing struggle of nursing professionals for fair treatment, recognition, and timely administrative action.The last review of the nursing cadre at the PGIMER happened in 2015. At that time, a proposal was made for 1,500 new nursing posts, keeping in mind the growing shortage of staff. This proposal was sent to the Union Health Ministry in 2016 but has been pending for years now. Meanwhile, the PGIMER has expanded; two major centres, Mother and Child Care and Neurosciences Centre, are being added, along with several new services and departments. Patient numbers have increased significantly, but the staff strength remains the same.According to the norms, the PGIMER currently needs over 3,000 nursing staff. Nurses are overburdened, often caring for 3 to 4 times the ideal number of patients. In the Emergency Ward alone, about 350 patients are present at any time, but only 7 to 8 nurses are on duty. This means one nurse is handling nearly 50 patients at once.Adding to the issue, only patients with hospital beds are officially counted, while many on stretchers or in corridors also receive full nursing care but are not included in the workload data. Staff are hopeful that the pending posts will be filled soon to reduce the pressure. Along with new posts, many promotional positions have also been lying vacant for years and need immediate attention.Manjeek Kaur, president of the association, said, “today’s protest was not just an event, it was a message. A message that PGIMER’s nursing officers are united, aware, and will no longer accept neglect in silence”.“We are professionals who serve this institution with our hearts and hands every day. But our rights, our growth, and our dignity cannot be postponed endlessly. We have demonstrated our strength. This is not the end, it is the beginning of a stronger collective movement if required,” he added.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:PGIMER Chandigarh