Andhra government rejects 15% stipend hike demand, urges junior doctors to call off strike

VIJAYAWADA: Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav on Thursday informed representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) that the State administration cannot grant a 15% stipend rise due to severe financial constraints.

Key points

• The JUDA delegation-led by President Dr Y Eswara Shankar and Vice President G Bhargava Sai Naidu-submitted a memorandum reiterating their demands.
• When contacted by the TNIE, members of the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) stated that their gathering with the Health Minister remained inconclusive, nevertheless.
• Addressing rumours regarding faculty retirement extensions, the Minister confirmed that the administration has no proposal under consideration to rise the retirement age for medical college professors.
• While standing firm on the stipend cap, he addressed the delegation's reservations regarding faculty retirement ages and non-clinical postings.
• In the meantime, APJUDA has decided to continue its boycott of both emergency and non-emergency medical services throughout the state until all their pending demands are fully met.

During a session at the Legislative Assembly premises, the Minister appealed to the junior doctors to reconsider their strike demand and return to work immediately to avoid disrupting patient care throughout administration hospitals.

While postgraduates (PG) and Super-Specialty PG students will receive a 3% annual rise, after a decision taken by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, house surgeons (interns) will receive a 5% stipend rise for the current year, followed by an annual 3% growth starting next year.

Addressing rumours regarding faculty retirement extensions, the Minister confirmed that the administration has no proposal under consideration to rise the retirement age for medical college professors. He clarified that a potential extension for super-speciality doctors was merely discussed during a review session to address critical vacancies, adding that no decisions would be taken without prior consultation with the medical community.

Addressing reservations over appointing M.Sc (Medical Physics) candidates to non-clinical posts, the Minister stated that such measures are considered strictly in accordance with NMC guidelines when positions in remote teaching hospitals remain unfilled, urging junior doctors not to harbor anxieties over the problem.

For context, the JUDA delegation-led by President Dr Y Eswara Shankar and Vice President G Bhargava Sai Naidu-submitted a memorandum reiterating their demands.

Acknowledging that the services of junior doctors in public hospitals are indispensable, the Minister expressed sympathy toward their grievances but reiterated that economic realities limit further financial commitments, emphasizing that the administration remains open to further discussions provided patient services remain unhindered.

When contacted by the TNIE, members of the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) stated that their gathering with the Health Minister remained inconclusive, nevertheless. According to They, the Minister assured them he would take up their demands with the Finance Department once again and hold another round of negotiations after three days.

Taken together, the developments around andhra government rejects 15% stipend hike demand, urges junior doctors to call point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.