Female PG Medicos Struggle To Rejoin After Maternity Leave
TSRDA flags rejoining fee, stipend delays and lack of clear rules affecting women PGs
Hyderabad: The Telangana Senior Resident Doctors Association (TSRDA) has raised serious concerns faced by female postgraduate medical students during and after maternity leave. They were allegedly asked to pay Rs 15,000 as a rejoining fee.
Following a representation from 50 female PG medical students, the association said it would complain to the national and state women commissions and submitted representations to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) and the health university.
In a representation submitted to the DME and the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), the association said repeated appeals for support have gone unanswered.
A final-year postgraduate student told Deccan Chronicle that despite taking six months of maternity leave followed by a three-month extension, she has been unable to resume duties.
"The fee was hiked after July 2025. I paid the rejoining fee of Rs 15,000 a month ago, but I am still waiting for one letter from KNRUHS. Without it, my principal is not allowing me to attend duty or college. I had submitted a fitness certificate and discharge summary. I am anxious about when they will finally accept my request so I can write my exams,"
TSRDA said the absence of clear university guidelines has led to inconsistent and often unfair practices. After the mandatory three-month maternity leave, PGs are reportedly asked to pay a `15,000 rejoining fee, followed by a long wait, sometimes over a month for university approval, during which they are denied departmental access.
The association also highlighted severe financial distress, stating that students receive no stipend during the extension period, and pending stipends are delayed by four to five months. Female PGs are also reportedly barred from taking even casual leave during their extension period, despite medical or child-care needs.
TSRDA has demanded immediate action, including a clear maternity leave protocol, waiver of the rejoining fee, regular stipends during extension, permission for casual leave in emergencies, and release of all pending stipends. The association urged authorities to act with urgency and empathy, saying female PGs require institutional support during this critical phase of maternal and child health.
