Andhra Pradesh junior doctors extend strike over stipend demands

Junior doctors across Andhra Pradesh have extended their strike, entering an eighth day of protests against the state government. The Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) is demanding the immediate release of stipend arrears, the implementation of a mandatory 15% biennial stipend hike as per existing Government Orders, and adherence to National Medical Commission regulations regarding monthly payments.

The doctors have boycotted outpatient services and, in recent developments, have completely withdrawn emergency services. Protesters have staged sit-ins at locations including the Visakhapatnam campus and Government General Hospital in Vijayawada. Some participants used symbolic gestures, such as tying their hands with stethoscopes, to represent their lack of progress in negotiations.

The state government has countered these demands by proposing an annual stipend increase of 3% for postgraduate students and 5% for interns, rather than the requested 15% biennial hike. Health Secretary G. Veerapandian stated that the government is facing weak financial conditions and noted that a 15% increase would cost the exchequer an additional 87.91 crore. The government cited comparable annual hike models in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as a justification for their proposal.