Andhra Pradesh Junior doctors to meet CM seeking stipend hike

Vijayawada: Demanding a hike in doctors' stipends, the junior doctors of Andhra Pradesh have decided to meet the Chief Minister, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, seeking a hike in their stipend by January next year to meet their financial needs. 

The doctors have been raising their concerns about financial hardships for a long time now. The doctors had earlier demanded from the government a 42 percent hike in their stipends and had also issued a notice of strike on October 17 regarding the same. They had made the complaint that they were receiving less amount as compared to their counterparts in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and other states. 

Also Read:Andhra Pradesh medicos allege lack of amenities at GMCs

After that, the government released a government order which increased the stipend of the doctors by 15 percent. The doctors then decided to terminate their strike and continue working. After the 15 percent hike, Dr Jaswanth Jangam, President of Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors' Association (AP JUDA) had said, "We wanted a written document to prove that stipends would be hiked, as we could not rely on promises uttered orally. Now, we have received it." 

He said that 15 percent hike is not enough as compared to their original demand, but said that they are holding off their protest since the GO was issued recently. He had observed, "The 42 per cent hike is needed to make the stipends on par with the national average for junior doctors. With the 15 per cent hike, the stipend would now be on par with the neighbouring state's (Telangana) average." He stated that they were planning to meet the Health Secretary, the DME officials, and the Chief Minister to negotiate the stipend amount. 

However, according to junior doctors, the 15 percent hike is a major concern for those who are in first-year super specialty courses and those doing their final year PG. Their salaries have been hiked to ₹56,319 from the existing ₹48,973. 

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a junior doctor said, "We want to meet the Chief Minister and request him to revise our stipend once again, effective from January 2023. This will boost our morale, as, despite the 15 percent hike in stipend, we are still getting less stipend when compared to our counterparts in the neighbouring states." 

The APJUDA had earlier issued a notice to go on strike on October 26 demanding a hike in the stipend, but they reportedly put it on hold after the state government partially agreed to fulfill their demands, reports Edex Live. Dr. Jangam said, "The stipend should be hiked every two years. It was last hiked in January 2020 and should have been hiked in January this year. But even after nine months, no changes were made in the amount." 

The junior doctors are complaining that the junior doctors have various financial responsibilities since many of them get married by the time they complete their UG and PG in medicine and join a super speciality course. Many have kids and elder family members to take care of, which could not be met with the poor pay. 

Further, drawing a comparison between engineering and other professional courses, the doctors alleged that the students in these courses get campus placements and job offers. They are able to earn good money and settle down early, complained the doctors. They added that doctors take a long time to finish their three years of super speciality courses before they could start earning money to support themselves and their family. 

Also Read:Telangana: Osmania General Hospital Junior Doctors stage protest to condemn assault, seek security