Junior doctors in Telangana began an indefinite strike on Monday, June 24, 2024, causing significant disruptions in medical services. About 1,000 junior doctors from Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital (OGH) in Hyderabad, along with approximately 6,000 junior doctors statewide, have boycotted outpatient services, elective surgeries, and inpatient ward duties. However, they are continuing to provide emergency services.
The strike commenced with junior doctors raising slogans and holding placards at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad. The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) organized the protest, expressing frustration over the state government’s failure to address their demands. Dr. G. Sai Sri Harsha, President of T-JUDA, stated that the government had ample time to resolve their issues but failed to act.
The key demands of the junior doctors include the creation of a "green channel" for the timely disbursement of stipends, an honorarium for super-specialty senior residents, security measures in government hospitals, new hostel facilities, construction of a new building for Osmania General Hospital, and improvements in infrastructure at government medical colleges. They also demand the repair of roads at Kakatiya Medical College and better transport facilities for students.
Despite negotiations with Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha and Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr. N. Vani, the talks did not yield concrete results. While the government has shown some willingness to address the demands, the junior doctors have not received any decisive assurances. As a result, the strike has continued into its second day.
The strike has heavily impacted medical services. There have been around 200 postponements of elective procedures at Gandhi Hospital and affiliated facilities of Osmania Medical College, such as OGH, Chest Hospital, ENT Hospital in Koti, and Niloufer Hospital. The outpatient wings and bedside healthcare services in recovering wards are being managed by senior doctors, who have been instructed to cancel their leaves and resume duties.
The junior doctors' main demand is for increased security at hospitals. They point out that, despite a promise made in 2019 to deploy a Special Protection Force (SPF) to protect doctors, no action has been taken. In order to talk about deploying the SPF, the Health Minister has now instructed the DME to meet with the head of the home department.
In addition to security, the junior doctors demand timely stipend payments to avoid financial strain. They seek a government order ensuring stipends are credited by the 10th of every month. They also call for the appointment of super-specialty senior residents to contract assistant positions with a salary of Rs 1,25,000, starting January 18, 2024.
The strike has also highlighted infrastructural issues. The doctors demand the immediate construction of new hostel facilities and a new building for OGH. They also seek improvements in transportation for students in government medical colleges and the laying of roads in Kakatiya Medical College.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)