Tamil Nadu: Government doctors go on hunger strike over poor pay; to boycott OPD services on July 18

Chennai: Displeased with the pay scale, government doctors in Tamil Nadu recently staged protest against the state government, demanding the implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression(DACP) as per the recommendations of a working group to review Government Order 354 and invoke the prospective clause.

100 doctors from Vellore, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chennai took off from duty and observed one-day token fast at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital. Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) also witnessed a token hunger strike over the issue.

The protesting doctors stated that the protest is being staged to stress on their four-point charter of demands, which was being conducted in a way that it will not cause any hassle to the patients.

The four-point charter of demands read;

• The doctors demanded that the State government bring in an ordinance for allotting 50% of postgraduate seats (specialities and super-specialities) for service quota candidates.


• Besides the salary revision, the doctors also sought increase in the strength of doctors in government medical college hospitals.


• Among other demands, the government doctors demanded conduct of counselling for service PGs and restructuring posts as per the patient load.