In a major relief to protesting nurses, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced that more than 1,000 contract nurses will be regularised in the first phase, paving the way for the withdrawal of their statewide agitation. The move follows a series of negotiations held with representatives of nursing associations on the directions of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said in a statement.
Contract nurses appointed through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) had been staging sustained protests demanding permanent postings. Responding to their concerns, the Health Minister held talks with them on December 19, 22, and again on December 24, after consulting the Chief Minister and placing their demands before him.
Following the latest round of discussions, the government has resolved to clear pending promotions and create new positions to enable the absorption of existing contract nurses into regular service. “As an immediate measure, more than 1,000 nurses will soon be brought into permanent service. The remaining nurses will also be regularised in stages,” Subramanian said.
Citing the government’s efforts in strengthening the health workforce, the Minister said that while 6,395 contract nurses were appointed in 2015 during the previous AIADMK regime, only 1,871 had been regularised by 2020. Since the DMK assumed office in 2021, 4,825 contract nurses have been made permanent over the past four-and-a-half years, including 1,693 in 2024 alone, he noted.
The Minister also highlighted the various welfare initiatives undertaken for nursing staff, including large-scale promotions. Over the last four years, 1,998 nurses have been elevated to Nursing Supervisor Grade II, 465 to Nursing Supervisor Grade I, and 62 to Nursing Tutor Grade II, he said.
The decision to regularise the nurses is expected to significantly bolster morale among healthcare workers and strengthen service delivery in government hospitals across the state.