Over 5,000 staff nurses, recruited through the Medical Recruitment Board Tamil Nadu, from across the State protested demanding pay hike and permanent posts.
The protest was organised by the Tamil Nadu MRB Empowerment Association. C Stella, a member of the association from Arani, said the staff nurses are recruited by the Medical Recruitment Board through competitive exams. Upon selection, they are recruited with a monthly salary of ₹7,700 for two years after which they will be given permanent positions.
Nurses said that they were not promoted and are overworked.
According to Stella, the strike was decided in advance and the authorities were aware of it. Though nursing services were affected in hospitals and primary healthcare centres, nurses were stationed there to attend to emergency cases, she added.