Around 1,000 junior doctors working at Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital (OGH), and approximately 6,000 junior doctors in Telangana began their strike on Monday, June 24, 2024.
As part of the strike, from Monday junior doctors across the State boycotted outpatient services, elective surgeries, and ward duties, though emergency services will continue as usual.
At the end of the day, Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha met with the junior doctors.
These were junior doctors preparing to start an indefinite strike due to unmet demands from the government.
This slogan, originally used by the Congress party during the 2023 Telangana assembly elections, was adapted and modified by the junior doctors during their strike.
Around 1,000 junior doctors working at Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital (OGH), and approximately 6,000 junior doctors in Telangana began their strike on Monday, June 24, 2024. The medical services at the hospital remained unaffected, said medical staff who were not part of the stir. The strike will continue on Tuesday, said the doctors.
As part of the strike, from Monday junior doctors across the State boycotted outpatient services, elective surgeries, and ward duties, though emergency services will continue as usual. “We have given enough time for the government to address our demands, most of which can be resolved within a day if the government and administration commit to it,” said Dr. G Sai Sri Harsha, President of the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA).
At the end of the day, Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha met with the junior doctors. During their discussion, he assured them that a Budget Release Order, including budget relaxation for stipends for the period of 2024-25, had been issued. He explained that this order is experimental and will be reviewed periodically, with adjustments made as necessary in the future.
Concerning security issues, the Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr N Vani was instructed to meet with the head of the home department to discuss deploying the Special Protection Force (SPF). As for Osmania General Hospital, the health minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to constructing a new building. The DME has issued a circular outlining 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.
Regarding new hostel facilities, roads in Kakatiya Medical College Warangal and deployment of security forces, no proper clarity has been given henceforth, the strike continues, said T-JUDA in a statement on Monday evening.
As patients made their way to the Outpatient (OP) block of Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad, a tent was set up outside the Inpatient (IP) building. These were junior doctors preparing to start an indefinite strike due to unmet demands from the government. As time went on, hundreds of junior doctors assembled, holding placards and chanting slogans like “When no delay in treatment then why delay in stipends.”
One doctor highlighted, “Even if the government promises to credit our stipends within the next hour, our strike will continue. We want our stipends to be credited on time every month, and that is why we are demanding the implementation of a green channel.”
Junior doctors at Osmania Medical College raised the slogan “Marpu Kavali, Green Channel Implementation Ravali” (Change should come, Implementation of Green Channel is Needed) on Monday. This slogan, originally used by the Congress party during the 2023 Telangana assembly elections, was adapted and modified by the junior doctors during their strike.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday released Rs 406 crore to the Director of Medical Education (DME). This allocation will ensure sufficient funding for the department for the current fiscal year. This decision brings significant relief to senior resident doctors, teaching medical staff, nursing, and paramedical staff who have been facing salary issues for some time now.
