Andhra Pradesh govt. and striking doctors refuse to budge on stipend issue
Junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh are continuing a 10-day strike to demand a 30% stipend hike, rejecting the government's offer of a smaller annual increase. The state government maintains that financial constraints prevent them from meeting the higher demand.
Why it matters
The ongoing strike has led to the withdrawal of emergency and non-emergency services in government teaching hospitals, impacting public healthcare access.
As the junior doctors, interns and super-speciality doctors’ strike continued for the 10 day on Wednesday, August 19, the State government remained steadfast in its stance that a biannual stipend hike of 15% was not possible, given the financial situation of the State.
According to a release from the Health Department, the subject was discussed in the recent Cabinet meeting, and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stressed the need for explaining to the protesting doctors about the financial constraints.
The officials, once again, iterated that instead of a biannual stipend hike of 15%, there would be an annual hike of 5% for interns this year and 3% later on. For junior doctors and superspeciality doctors, the government proposed a uniform annual hike of 3%.
While the government appeals to the doctors to be back on their duties, the A.P. Junior Doctors’ Association (APJUDA) decided to continue the strike.
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