On the 27th of May, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) entered the second day of the strike. The doctors started their indefinite strike from Wednesday, the 26th of May.
During the strike, the junior doctors in Telangana boycotted services including emergency services in government hospitals. According to sources, approximately 4,000 doctors are currently protesting for their demands. The doctors working for the COVID-19 patients were demanding a hike in their salaries. For this, they issued a two week notice to the administration and the State Government on the 11th of May and began an indefinite strike from the 26th of May.
According to sources, the junior doctors wrote to the State Government demanding a 15 % hike in salaries and 10% incentives immediately. They also requested the TRS Government to provide treatment for health workers and their family members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) hospital. The doctors also demanded insurance for medical students in the letter. The letter read, “The ex-gratia of 50 lakh for doctors and 25 lakh for nurses and supporting staff that was announced has not been implemented so far. We will boycott service if the demands are not met by May 25, 2021.”
The JUDA notice issued for the State Government read, “We the JUDA members hereby bring to your kind notice that stipends 15 percent hike for post graduates and interns is due from January 2020. The file bearing No. 5665/2018 is due for final approval of the chief minister. Also 15 percent hike for senior residents is pending for finance approval. We have regularly pursued for approval of the hike with officials for the last 6 months. The 10 percent incentive that was announced for healthcare workers has not been implemented till date.”
The indefinite strike amid increasing COVID-19 cases is creating panic amongst the public, who are waiting for treatment at hospitals.
On the other hand, responding to the demands of the doctors, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Government said they would accept legitimate demands. The Telangana Chief Minister so far announced a 15 % hike in the honorarium for senior resident doctors, extended the enhanced honorarium to the medical students, engaged in COVID-19 duties and ordered medical facilities for junior doctors and their family members at NIMS be further strengthened.
KCR said, “If the junior doctors’ demands are justified, the Government has no objection to solve them. They can bring those demands to the government and get them solved. But it is not proper to abstain from duties now and then under the pretext of strike without even understanding the time and situation and causing inconvenience to people time and again. Moreover, going on strike under the present emergency situation caused by Corona no one will appreciate, not even the people (sic.)”
The TJUDA asked the K. Chandrashekar Rao led TRS Government to issue an official notification/Government Order (GO) or give assurance in writing.
Meanwhile, a meeting of TJUDA was being held at the Osmania Medical College. During the held meeting, the leaders representing the TRS gave a briefing on the talks held with Director of Medical Education Ramesh Reddy.
According to sources, the recently held meeting would decide the future course of action and ongoing protest in Telangana. The strike by the junior doctors of Telangana is being held at various hospitals across the State.
KCR also urged the protesting doctors to join back duties, as it could affect the Wuhan virus pandemic situation in Telangana.
Stay tuned for further updates.
