Junior Doctors in Telangana Set to Resume Strike for Timely Stipends

 Hyderabad: The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA), in a letter to Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr N. Vani, notified their intention to resume the indefinite strike which was temporarily withheld last month due to the model code of conduct ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

The junior doctors said that they would resume the strike from June 24, and continue it indefinitely until the demands were met.

The association reiterated their demand for the creation of a green channel for timely disbursement of the stipends of house surgeons, post graduates and senior residents. "T-JUDA demands a GO be released to avoid financial strain on the junior doctors and a circular from the finance department that the stipends will be credited by 10th of every month," the letter said.

The association demanded an honorarium of Rs 1.25 lakh for super specialty senior residents, from the date of their appointment, i.e. 18.01.2024. Failing to implement this would not only compromise their one-year service but also deprive them of the monetary benefits to which they were entitled.

The letter mentioned the 15 per cent reservation in NEET UG courses and demanded that the AP students should not be allowed to join 15 per cent seats increased in medical colleges in Telangana after June 2, 2014.

On infrastructure, the association demanded laying of roads in Kakatiya Medical College and sanction of money for the construction of hostels. The association also demanded urgent action to construct a building for the Osmania General Hospital to prevent overcrowding and improve patient care standards.

The junior doctors also flagged the incidents of violence against doctors that continue to persist across hospitals and demaned immediate reinforcement of security outposts and strict law enforcement against assailants.