No Stipend Hike, Disbursement Delay: Telangana Doctors seek solutions from state

Hyderabad: Raising the issue of delay in the disbursement of stipends for several months, the resident doctors in Telangana approached the State Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha recently. Apart from the issue of delayed stipend, the junior doctors also highlighted other issues such as stipend hikes, scholarship reimbursements, tax exemption for stipends, regular pay for the contractual staff, etc.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2024, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association had announced an indefinite strike from June 24, 2024. Approximately 7,000 junior doctors from 20 medical colleges across the State were participating in the strike, advocating for their long standing demands including the establishment of a green channel for timely stipend disbursement and inadequate honorarium for Super Specialty Senior Residents etc.

Boycotting the outpatient (OPD) services, elective services and ward duties, the junior doctors had demanded a solution to their unresolved issues concerning the doctors. Holding placards and chanting slogans, the junior doctors organised their protest at the Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad and many other medical colleges including Kakatiya Medical College, Nizamabad Medical College, Nalgonda Medical College, and many more as part of the indefinite statewide strike.

Also Read: 7000 Telangana Junior doctors on strike demanding timely stipend disbursement

However, as per T-JUDA, the issue of delay in crediting stipends to the junior doctors has been continuing for several months. Raising the issue, the association yesterday approached the Health Minister.

As per the association, during the meeting the Health Minister expressed concern over the delay in stipend payments despite government orders and assured the representatives of T-JUDA that immediate action would be taken to resolve the issue.

Apart from this, a representation was also submitted by T-JUDA to the Health Minister, requesting a stipend hike. The Minister agreed to forward the representation to the Health Secretary for further consideration and necessary action, T-JUDA mentioned in a release.

The Minister also agreed to examine the possibility of exempting stipends from tax and explore possible solutions. Meanwhile, during the meeting, the representatives of T-JUDA brought to the notice of the Minister regarding the issue of irregular disbursement of undergraduate scholarship amounts and the Minister, in turn, assured that he would investigate the matter and take necessary steps to resolve the issue.

Besides, the association of junior doctors also submitted a representation to the Health Minister highlighting the delay in salary payments to Contract Assistant / Associate Professors. The Minister has assured addressing the issue promptly.

Also Read: Telangana Junior Doctors announce Indefinite Strike over delay in stipend disbursement