Telangana Govt increases stipend of Senior Residents to Rs 80500, doctors call off strike

As per a recent media report by Times of India, the Junior doctors boycotted their works across tertiary centres like Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, TIMS, Kakatiya Medical College, and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad among others.

Besides salary hike, the doctors were demanding separate exclusive Covid hospitals for doctors and their family members who are infected with Covid 19, an increase in the amount of stipend, implementation of incentive for junior doctors employed in COVID facilities, assurance of better treatment and bed facilities for COVID warriors and their wards, and ex gratia relief for the family members of junior doctors who succumbed to COVID.

Meanwhile, the ENT PGs of Gandhi Hospital also participated in the protest demanding a separate wing for mucormycosis and Covid-19 patients. "In this second wave we are seeing so many youngsters dying and knowing that we might be unable to find a bed is a demotivating factor," stated a junior doctor who protested at the Gandhi Hospital.

Subsequently, on Thursday the Telangana government announced a 15 per cent increase in the stipend for senior resident doctors in the state.

In the order, the state government said that the Director of Medical Education, Hyderabad has furnished a proposal for a 15 per cent increase of stipend for Senior Residents from Rs 70,000 per month to Rs 80,500 per month.

"Government after careful examination of the matter, hereby enhance the stipend of Senior Resident doctors from Rs 70,000 per month to Rs 80,500 per month (consolidated) with effect from January 1, 2021," the order stated.

The state government in its order further said that the Director of Medical Education, Telangana, Hyderabad shall take further necessary action in the matter.

Meanwhile, Junior doctors in government-run hospitals across Telangana on Thursday night called off their strike. The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) announced, "Keeping in view of patient's health, as our priority and also our responsibility to serve them in present pandemic crisis, we T-JUDA are calling off the strike and will report to duties from 9 pm."