Published Jun 25, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2024 | 2:52 PM
Telangana Junior doctors protest
The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) began an indefinite strike on Monday, 24 June, severely impacting healthcare services at government hospitals across the state. T-JUDA announced on Monday evening that the strike would continue on Tuesday, 25 June.
Hospital management instructed all senior doctors, including assistant professors, to cancel their leaves and resume duties. While authorities managed to keep the outpatient wing operational on Monday, elective surgeries had to be postponed due to the strike. Junior doctors participated in protests from early morning, boycotting their outpatient and elective surgery duties.
Junior doctors, who serve as frontline medical professionals in teaching hospitals such as Osmania General Hospital, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, and Kakatiya Medical College, regularly interact with and attend to patients in hospital wards.
They have issued a strike notice to Dr N Vani, Director of Medical Education, stating that this strike is a continuation of the action that was temporarily suspended last month on 21 May. Despite proposals put forth in response to their previous strike notice, none of their demands have been fully met by the state health department.
T-JUDA has demanded the creation of a “green channel” for timely disbursement of stipends to Junior Doctors (House Surgeons, Postgraduates, and Senior Residents), advocating for budget relaxation. They have pressed for the release of a Government Order (G.O) to prevent future financial strain on Junior Doctors and a directive from the finance department ensuring stipends are credited by the 10th of each month.
“T-JUDA met with the health minister today regarding the ongoing strike. The health minister has issued a budget release order, including budget relaxation for stipends for the period of one year (2024-25), with the budget now under the control of the DME,” said T-JUDA in a statement.
They continued, stating that regarding the regularisation of stipends for future years, this is an experimental order and will be reviewed periodically, with changes made as needed.
“The protracted delay in constructing the new OGH building necessitates urgent action to prevent overcrowding and improve patient care standards. We demand the immediate laying of the foundation stone at the new site and the allocation of a budget for the new hospital building. Regarding Osmania Hospital, the health minister has expressed the government’s commitment to the construction of the new OGH building,” said T-JUDA in a statement.
Regarding hostel buildings and roads in KMC, a proposal has been sent from the health minister with budget estimates to the finance department and is awaiting a sanction order.
For transport facilities in the new medical colleges, the minister stated that the budget has been allocated to the DME, who can raise a proposal for the same. “Regarding security issues, the DME was asked to hold a meeting with the HOD of the home department regarding the deployment of the Special Protection Force,” said T-JUDA.
Subsequently, they met with DME Dr. N. Vani to discuss guidelines for regularizing stipends, the need for a meeting with the home department for the Special Protection Force, and transport facilities for new medical colleges.
The DME has issued a circular with a proper timeline for the regular release of stipends and promised to hold a meeting with the home department regarding the deployment of security forces.
“However, regarding new hostel facilities, roads in KMC, and the deployment of security forces, no proper clarity has been given. Henceforth, the strike continues,” said T-JUDA.
(Edited by Neena)
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