Assurance from Health Minister for 15% Stipend Hike, Telangana Resident Doctors withhold strike

Hyderabad: The resident doctors belonging to the Government medical colleges in Telangana have now decided to withhold their strike after the State Health Minister T Harish Rao assured them regarding the 15% stipend hike for MBBS interns, PG resident doctors and super speciality residents.

Confirming this development, Telangana Junior Doctors' Association (TJUDA) mentioned in a recent press release, "Sir gave assurance that government is positive with regards to 15% hike for interns, PGs and Super-speciality residents. Sir said, the file has been processed and is at CM office waiting for approval."

"Sir has always been supportive to Junior doctors in various issues. We Junior Doctors are immensely thankful for that. Taking into consideration of Sir's assurance and public healthcare, JUDA has decided to withhold the strike," the release further mentioned.

The last hike was given to the doctors back in 2021 and currently, the first-year PG residents get around Rs 50,000, for second-year the amount of stipend is around Rs 53,000 and the third-year PG medical residents get around Rs 56,000.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Junior doctors belonging to all the government medical colleges in Telangana had decided to initiate a boycott of medical services from May 3, 2023 over their pending demands for a stipend hike.

Also Read: Telangana junior doctors demand 15% stipend hike, threaten to boycott medical services

Since the stipend was scheduled to be increased in January 2023, earlier the doctors had informed the authorities about the same. Responding to this, the government authorities had assured that the 15% stipend hike would be given with 15 to 20 days.

However, the matter remained unsolved and thereafter Telangana JUDA announced its decision to initiate a strike in a recent press release. The association mentioned how the 15% stipend hike is due since January 2023.

The association had further mentioned in the release that despite being given assurance, the issue regarding their stipend hike was still pending. "Hence, Junior doctors will be boycotting all the services except emergencies from 3rd May, 2023, if the issues with regards to stipends are not addressed by 2nd May, 2023," stated the release.

Now after getting assurance from the State Health Minister T Harish Rao, the association has decided to withhold the strike and the press release mentioned in this regard, "Junior Doctors have faith in Telangana Government that our issues with regards to stipend hike and pending stipends (march, April) will be solved as soon as possible."

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, the President of Telangana JUDA, Dr. Kaushik Kumar Pinjarala added, "We have decided to wait now since Health Minister sir has given us the assurance regarding the pending hike. So, we do not want to initiate a strike immediately because it will affect the healthcare system."

Also Read: No arrangements for Food, Accommodation for Telangana PG Medicos undergoing District Residency Programme, Govt Intervention sought