MUMBAI, July 27 -- After an eight-day strike that paralysed non-emergency services in government hospitals across the state, the Maharashtra State Nurses Association (MSNA) has temporarily called off its protest following assurances from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) that full-time recruitment will begin from August. The decision came after a meeting on Thursday with Dheeraj Kumar, secretary of the Department of Medical Education and Drugs, who assured union leaders that the contentious contractual hiring model was only a temporary measure to prevent disruptions in healthcare services. "In the Nanded case, the HC instructed the department to fill all hospital-related posts immediately. Accordingly, nurses recruitment rules have been updated," Kumar said. He clarified that the outsourcing arrangement-introduced via a June 6 government order-was purely a stop-gap, valid only until December 31, 2025, or until regular recruitment is completed, whichever comes earlier. Nearly 45,000 nurses had joined the protest demanding that all 5,000 vacant nursing posts be filled, contractual hiring be scrapped, and long-pending issues like promotions and allowances be resolved. During the eight-day strike, elective surgeries were deferred in several hospitals, with MSNA having to deploy ten-member squads to handle emergency cases. MSNA state treasurer Raj Suryawanshi said, "We are satisfied that our demands have been understood. Institutions requiring contractual nurses must now seek our consent. Once regular hiring begins, contractual posts won't be needed." The revised hiring policy follows directions from the HC to address severe staffing gaps in public hospitals, especially in Nanded and Aurangabad, where a spate of patient deaths last year triggered judicial and departmental scrutiny. The nurses are now awaiting a final round of talks with state Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on July 29....