Hyderabad: Junior doctors in Telangana plan to start an indefinite strike from June 30 if their demands are not met soon. The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) sent a letter to Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narsimha last Friday, urging him to address their concerns. Despite having two meetings with the minister this month, no progress has been made.
The junior doctors want their stipends paid on time, the implementation of GO Ms No 59 to increase stipend amounts, and better infrastructure in government medical colleges. T-JUDA, representing doctors from all 34 Government Medical Colleges, has repeatedly informed the Health Minister and Health Secretary about the serious issues they face.
Association president Dr. J Isac Newton mentioned that they have continuously raised these issues since last November. The doctors struggle with inadequate infrastructure and facilities in medical colleges, while the lack of faculty affects both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Even in private medical colleges, stipend payments are inconsistent. The delay in scholarship and fee reimbursements for minority, SC, ST, and BC students adds to their frustration.
Junior doctors, crucial to government hospitals, work under extreme physical and mental pressure, often for more than 36 hours at a time, said Dr. Newton.
They demand a GO and a Finance Department Circular to ensure stipends are paid by the 10th of every month via a ‘green channel.’ They also call for the immediate implementation of the revised stipend structure and payment of all arrears from January.
Many colleges lack basic facilities, including unfinished or unopened buildings in places like Nagarkurnool and Siddipet, and insufficient water and transportation in Bhadrachalam-Kothagudem. The doctors urge that student representatives be included in infrastructure review committees to address these issues. The shortage of clinical and para-clinical faculty affects academic quality and hands-on training. They demand a regular recruitment calendar and immediate filling of posts to meet NMC norms.
