AP To Avoid 15% Hike In Stipend To Junior Doctors As Per 2022 Memo
State likely to follow Tamil Nadu model of annual 3% hike: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government appears to be following the memo issued by the health department in 2022 and stop the practice of increasing the stipend of junior doctors by 15 per cent while ensuring future increases are based on more objective considerations.
The memo stated that a 15 per cent increase is excessive when compared with the neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala which have institutionalised annual increases by 3 and 4 per cent respectively and have excellent healthcare systems. It noted that the annual DA of the central government should form the basis for annual increase of stipend to junior doctors.
It also noted that the 15 per cent hike in stipend once in two years with effect from 01-01-2012 to 01-01-2014 for a period of six years as per GO Ms - 287 in 2009 must be dispensed with.
However, the state government enhanced the stipend by 15 per cent again by issuing GO-Rt- 515 dated 09-08-2024 with effect from 01-01-2024 when the junior doctors staged a strike for a hike in their stipend.
In this backdrop, the state government recently proposed a hike up to 5 per cent to the interns for the current academic year and an annual 3 per cent hike for the interns and those pursuing post-graduation and super speciality courses. This, it said, was due to the state’s tight financial status.
However, the junior doctors intensified their strike by boycotting even the emergency services from August 17 this month. This had its adverse impact on treatments to patients in all the 18 government hospitals with attached medical colleges.
Sources said a section of the AP junior doctors association is apparently hijacking the strike even as a majority of the agitating doctors are willing to accept a hike of around 10 per cent and go back to their classes and continue their treatment of patients.
The government intends to resolve the issue amicably so as to ensure that the healthcare services are not affected and hence continuing its talks with the junior doctors in the hope of working out a mutually acceptable hike in stipend. This may be in the range of around 7 to 10 per cent for the interns, sources said.
On Friday, government hospitals in the state had 19,976 registrations in the out-patient ward, as also admission of 973 patients. Some 850 surgeries were performed and 60 deliveries done from 8am to 2pm.
Director of medical education Dr Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said, “Ongoing stir by the junior doctors is slowing down the healthcare delivery system. We appeal to the agitating junior doctors to resume duty and avoid any trouble to the patients.”
The APJUDA raised three main demands -- a 20 per cent base stipend revision for 2026, compliance with NMC norms in intake of faculty from those who are qualified in MSc and PhD and withdrawal of the proposed enhancement in age of superannuation to the medical faculty.
