Junior doctors' strike is intensifying day by day across Andhra Pradesh. Junior doctors, medical students, and resident doctors working in government medical colleges and teaching hospitals are continuing their protests demanding a hike in their stipend along with the resolution of various issues.
The impact of this protest is visible across all 19 government medical colleges in the state. News agencies reported that about 9,000 resident doctors, interns, junior residents, senior residents, super-specialty PG doctors, and doctors working under the district residency program are participating in the agitation. As early as July, the Junior Doctors Association had urged authorities to respond to their issues. Following negotiations, failing to receive a clear written assurance on their demands, they started phased protests from August 10. Initially, the doctors suspended non-emergency medical services for a limited time and later escalated the agitation. By August 17, they moved to the stage of boycotting emergency services as well.
The primary demand of the junior doctors is a 30 percent hike in stipend. They are demanding a revision of the stipend in accordance with the currently applicable mechanism. They are also demanding the implementation of the hiked stipend from January 1, 2026. However, the Junior Doctors Association stated that the government proposed a 3 percent hike during talks, which is unacceptable to them. This issue has become one of the main reasons for the failure of negotiations.
Along with the stipend hike, junior doctors are demanding strict implementation of National Medical Commission guidelines for the recruitment of faculty in medical colleges. They are demanding that regulations be followed in the recruitment of faculty with non-medical qualifications. They are also asking to reconsider the proposal to increase the retirement age of senior doctors in government medical colleges. They state that giving priority to the recruitment of new faculty is essential to increase employment opportunities for new medical graduates and PG doctors. They are also demanding the improvement of basic facilities such as drinking water and rest rooms in government medical colleges and hospitals.
Due to the junior doctors' strike, general medical services in some government hospitals are being affected. Recent reports indicate that bed occupancy in general medicine and surgical departments at the Guntur Government General Hospital has decreased significantly. However, the government stated that alternative arrangements are being made to continue vital services such as emergency departments, emergency surgeries, maternity services, ICUs, pediatric emergency departments, and blood banks. In areas like Visakhapatnam, as junior doctors withdrew from emergency services, medical college managements reportedly deployed additional faculty and other medical staff on duty. Officials state that alternative arrangements have been made to avoid inconvenience to patients.
It is clear that the junior doctors' issue is not limited to just a stipend hike. It involves many aspects such as quality in medical education, faculty recruitment, working conditions for doctors, and infrastructure in government hospitals. At the same time, since the strike is likely to directly impact poor and middle-class people, the government also needs to resolve this issue very sensitively. Continuous medical services to thousands of patients depending on government hospitals is of utmost importance.
The government stated that while appealing to the junior doctors to call off the strike and attend duties, it is continuing talks to resolve their issues. Junior doctors are also saying that they are ready for talks keeping the interests of patients in mind. Medical services have a chance to return completely to normalcy only if the government and the Junior Doctors Association find a swift solution through mutual talks. Striking may be the right of doctors. At the same time, ensuring medical care reaches patients is everyone's responsibility toward society. It is now imperative for the government to positively consider legitimate demands and for the junior doctors to resolve the issue through talks keeping people's lives in mind.
