Patients in government medical colleges and hospitals in Patiala, Amritsar and Mohali are likely to face difficulties as the United Nurses Association of Punjab began an indefinite statewide strike on Thursday.Association president Ramanjit Singh Gill said nurses at medical colleges in the three cities had joined the strike, demanding restoration of the Rs 4,600 grade pay.He said the protest would continue until the Punjab government accepted their demand, adding that the issue had been raised repeatedly over the past five years without any concrete decision.Meanwhile, chairperson Arti Bali said nursing staff in neighbouring states and Union Territories already received Rs 4,600 grade pay, while Punjab remained the only state where nurses were paid less despite heavy responsibilities and workload.The strike is expected to severely affect services in government medical colleges and hospitals across the three cities, with essential services — from operation theatres to patient wards — likely to be disrupted.“If a decision is not taken soon, the struggle will intensify,” Gill and Bali said, adding that the Punjab government would be responsible for any inconvenience caused to patients.The suspension of nursing services could significantly impact patient care and routine medical procedures if the deadlock continues.