Madurai government hospital nurses wear badges in protest against G.O. 204

Nurses of Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, on Monday wore badges opposing Government Order 204 that emphasised on downsizing staff strength.

Raising serious concerns over persistent nursing shortage, healthcare workers in the State warned that the recent government directives threatened both patient care and job security of thousands of medical professionals. Current staffing levels had fallen drastically short of benchmarks set by the National Medical Commission and the Indian Public Health Standards. Medical associations had reported that hospitals were functioning with a single nurse where four were formally required.

Nurses said that tensions peaked following the issuance of G.O. 204 (dated July 21, 2026) by the Health and Family Welfare Department. The directive had ordered the administrative reassignment of 210 nursing posts of seven medical college hospitals at Namakkal, Krishnagiri, The Nilgiris, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Tiruvallur, and Tiruppur to four major hubs comprising Government Stanley Hospital in Chennai, Salem, Tiruchi, and Chengalpattu.