TN Govt doctors threaten 48-hour hunger strike over pay revision, service benefits
Chennai: To press for long-pending demands related to pay revision, service benefits, and the creation of new medical posts, government doctors across Tamil Nadu have threatened to launch a 48-hour symbolic hunger strike from January 28 if their demands are not met.
The protest will be organised under the banner of the Federation of All Government Doctors’ Associations (FOGDA). The hunger strike, which was scheduled for January 20, was postponed for a week after the Health Minister, at a high-level meeting held at the Secretariat on January 19, intervened and assured that their demands would be forwarded before the Chief Minister for implementation.
The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Dr Senthil Kumar, IAS, along with Special Secretary (Finance) Arun Sundar Dayal, IAS, and Additional Secretary (Health) Dr Uma, IAS, in the presence of senior officials.
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During the meeting, government doctors strongly opposed the proposal to implement the UGC pay scale system, stating that it would weaken Tamil Nadu’s three-tier public healthcare structure—DPH, DMS, and DME, which is considered a model healthcare framework for the entire country. Doctors warned that such a move could create divisions among the government doctors.
FOGDA reiterated its demand for the re-fixation of G.O. 354, issued in 2009 by Dr. Kalaignar for the welfare of government doctors. The association pointed out that the government order had not been revised even once since 2018, despite repeated representations. Therefore, they firmly insisted that the re-fixation must be carried out at least this time.
The doctors also raised concerns regarding nearly 4,000 Primary Health Centre (PHC) doctors who allegedly did not receive a Rs 3,000 allowance under G.O. 293 and the amended G.O. No. 2. During the discussions, FOGDA leaders explained the critical field-level responsibilities handled by PHC doctors and sought immediate correction of the anomaly.
In addition, the association demanded that the increment for doctors who have completed their basic undergraduate medical degree, as mentioned in G.O. 293, should be granted as a stand-alone increment. They also called for the creation of new medical posts in proportion to the current patient load, and for the restoration of medical posts that were withdrawn under restructuring orders, citing NMC regulations as the reason.
While the Finance Department and Health Department officials acknowledged the concerns raised, they informed the doctors that the matter would be placed before the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after obtaining approvals from the Finance Minister and Finance Secretary, following which a decision would be communicated.
As no solution or announcement was made that day, they were prepared to proceed with the 48-hour symbolic hunger strike scheduled for January 20. However, respecting the constructive intervention of the Honourable Minister for Medical and Family Welfare, they decided to wait for one week.
The federation warned that if the government failed to address the demands within a week, doctors would launch a two-day symbolic hunger strike in Chennai from January 28, followed by phased protests, while continuing patient care with protest badges.
"If the expected solutions are not achieved within this period, a first-phase symbolic hunger strike for two days will be held in Chennai on 28/01/2026 to draw the attention of the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, followed by further phased protests, as announced. Until then, it has been decided in the Executive Committee of the Federation that all government doctors will continue to work while wearing/holding demand badges," mentioned the press release.
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