Junior doctors in the District Residency Program (DRP) in Hyderabad are advocating for better living conditions and payment of their stipends in accordance with the National Medical Council Notification. Led by Dr. Kaushik Kumar Pinjarala, the doctors have submitted a representation to the Director of Medical Education K Ramesh Reddy outlining their demands. They are seeking clean hostel facilities, security, and adequate food, which they have been promised by the Health Secretary but denied by the superintendents of district hospitals. Dr. Kaushik expressed disappointment with the government’s lack of support for junior doctors, who are being asked to serve the State under inhumane conditions.
The doctors are also calling for an increase in their stipends as per the government’s formula of 15 percent every two years. While the government raised stipends by 15 percent in May 2021, the doctors have not seen any enhancement since, nor have they received their stipends on time despite multiple representations to the DME office. The doctors are now demanding that their pending stipends from February and March be cleared by April 10, 2023. They were given assurance that their stipends would be credited in the second week of every month. If the government fails to act on these demands, the doctors have threatened to boycott their services, excluding emergencies, starting April 11, 2023.
It is important for the government to address the concerns raised by these junior doctors, as they play a critical role in providing healthcare services to the community. Providing them with adequate living conditions and timely payment of their stipends is essential to ensuring their well-being and motivation to continue serving the community.
