Junior doctors in A.P. to withdraw emergency services from Monday demanding stipend hike

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Junior doctors staging a protest near the Gandhi statue, close to the GVMC office, in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors' Association (APJUDA) announced on Sunday that it would escalate its ongoing agitation over stipend revision to “Phase III”, withdrawing emergency services across the State from 8 a.m. on August 17 (Monday), as the State government failed to respond within the stipulated deadline.

Dr. Balagam Dinakar Sai Srinivas (AMC), general secretary, and Dr. Ranjeet Dhabale (AMC), treasurer of APJUDA, who were protesting along with junior doctors at the Gandhi statue near the GVMC office in Visakhapatnam for the sixth consecutive day, said they had not received a “satisfactory written response” from the government by the deadline of 5 p.m. on August 16, despite repeated representations and a phased agitation seeking a fair and timely revision of stipend for junior doctors. They said emergency and ICU services had been maintained through the earlier phases of the strike to safeguard patient care.

The deadline, which was August 15 when the strike notice was issued on August 10, was later revised as negotiations continued with the government. “As of now, August 16 is the deadline. From August 17, we will also halt emergency services,” they said.

While non-emergency services will continue to be withdrawn, from Monday emergency services, including in the Intensive Care Unit, Casualty and Labour Room, will be withdrawn by participating junior doctors and other resident doctor of various categories, they said.

The State has approximately 9,000 junior doctors. Services in all 19 government medical colleges across the State are likely to be affected, Dr. Srinivas said.

The association said its central demand remained a clear, written, and time-bound commitment from the government on implementing the stipend revision, in line with discussions and proposals exchanged between the government and representatives of junior doctors.

The Indian Medical Association, Andhra Pradesh (IMA A.P.), and the IMA Junior Doctors Network, Andhra Pradesh, urged the State government on Sunday to resolve the pending 15% stipend revision, which has been due since January 1, 2026 under G.O.Ms.No.287, and to consider the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association’s (APJUDA) demand for a 30% hike, citing inflation, workload and interstate disparity.

The IMA said that APJUDA representatives had informed them that a proposal of 3% for postgraduates and 5% for house surgeons and interns was under discussion, which junior doctors felt was inadequate. IMA appealed to the Health Minister to intervene and hold immediate talks with APJUDA.

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