Junior Doctors in Andhra Pradesh Escalate Strike Over Overdue Stipend Hike and Working Conditions
Junior doctors across Andhra Pradesh, organised under the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors’ Association (APJUDA), have escalated their statewide agitation by halting emergency medical services from August 17, 2026. The protest, which began as a phased withdrawal of non-emergency duties on August 11, stems primarily from a delay in revising stipends due since January 1, 2026, alongside disagreements over proposed service conditions.
What Happened
The dispute originates from Government Order No. 287, issued in December 2009 by the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department, which mandated a biennial stipend revision of approximately 15% linked to inflation. Following past revisions in 2019 and 2024, the scheduled January 2026 revision remained pending for seven months, leading APJUDA to notify authorities in July.
Discussions between medical representatives and state authorities failed to yield an agreement. During a two-day meeting at the APIIC Building in Mangalagiri, the state government proposed an annual stipend increase of 3% for postgraduate junior doctors and 5% for house surgeons and interns. APJUDA rejected this offer, demanding a 30% increase to account for two years of accumulated inflation and substantial increases in workload, including a three-hour extension to daily outpatient department hours and duties related to digitising health records.
Following an initial phase of partial work stoppages and relay hunger strikes, APJUDA set a final deadline of August 16 for a written commitment. With no written order delivered, approximately 9,000 junior doctors across all 19 government medical colleges in the state ceased work in Intensive Care Units, casualty wards, and labour rooms starting at 8 a.m. on August 17.
Key Highlights
- Stipend Revision Dispute: APJUDA is seeking a 30% stipend increase, citing inflation and expanded duties, whereas the state government offered 3% for postgraduates and 5% for house surgeons and interns.
- Additional Demands: Protesting doctors are demanding strict compliance with National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines that cap non-medical MSc and PhD appointments to clinical faculty posts below 15%, and are opposing a proposal to raise the doctor retirement age from 62 to 65 years.
- Statewide Reach: An estimated 9,000 junior doctors across 19 government medical colleges, including institutions in Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Vijayawada, Kurnool, and Kadapa, are taking part.
- Emergency Services Halted: After preserving critical care during the initial days of the strike, doctors expanded the protest to include ICUs, casualty sections, and labour rooms on August 17.
- Fraternity Support: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Andhra Pradesh State and its Junior Doctors Network urged the government to fulfill the 15% biennial revision under G.O. No. 287 and initiate immediate direct discussions.
Why This Matters
The escalation directly affects critical patient care across all government teaching hospitals and medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh, as emergency units and labour wards operate without junior doctors. Administratively, the protest highlights systemic tensions over medical workforce planning, notably the enforcement of NMC recruitment caps for clinical posts and the impact of retirement age adjustments on entry-level medical positions.
What to Watch Next
APJUDA representatives have stated that the agitation will continue until the state government issues a formal written order specifying a firm timeline for the stipend revision. Medical bodies, including the IMA, have appealed for high-level intervention from the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Health Minister to restart negotiations and prevent prolonged disruption to healthcare services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh demanding a 30% stipend increase?
Doctors point to an annual inflation rate of approximately 5% (accumulating to roughly 10% over two years) and argue that the revision should cover retroactive cost-of-living increases. They also point to higher daily duties, including an added three hours of outpatient department time and the responsibility of maintaining digital health records.
What is Government Order No. 287?
Issued on December 17, 2009, G.O. No. 287 is a Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department directive providing for a biennial revision of junior doctors’ stipends by approximately 15%, aligned with inflation trends.
Why does APJUDA oppose raising the retirement age to 65?
The association contends that extending the retirement age of government doctors from 62 to 65 years would reduce recruitment openings and career progression opportunities for younger doctors joining government medical service.
Source: Information reported by The Hindu regarding the APJUDA statewide strike and medical department communications.