Telangana docs protest with black badges for stipends, amenities

Hyderabad: On Friday, doctors at government teaching hospitals in Telangana, led by the members of the Telangana Junior Doctors Association, wore black badges, demanding that PG students, attending DRP, be given sufficient accommodations, security, and food amenities. Their demands also included raising stipends by 15 per cent, providing a written guarantee that stipends will be credited by the 10th of each month, and clearing pending stipends for February and March.

The Telangana Juinor Doctors Association wrote a letter to Dr K Ramesh Reddy, Director of Medical Education with a list of their demands. “NMC has decided to adopt DRP (District Residency Program) for all NEET PG 2021 students. According to NMC standards, it is the responsibility of the state government to provide sufficient hygienic accommodation, security (particularly for female PGs), and food facilities to PG students attending DRP,” the letter read.

The association has stated that if the government does not address these issues by April 10, 2023, it will boycott services, with the exception of emergencies, beginning on April 11, 2023.

Regarding DRP

The Health Secretary promised that the government would give accommodation and food to PG students providing services in district hospitals in accordance with NMC rules, but the concerned district hospital superintendents allegedly refused to provide said facilities.

Regarding Stipend

As per GO No 287 and No 101 dated December 17, 2009, from the HM&FW Department, the government mandated that stipends be increased every two years. The next stipend increase was scheduled for January 1, 2023.

The doctors were told that their stipends would be paid in the second week of each month. The DME office is now full, and bills are being transmitted on time, but stipends are not being credited. The JUDA has made numerous representations on this subject.

Demands

Offer sufficient hygienic accommodation, security (particularly for female PGs), and food facilities to PG students attending DRP in accordance with the NMC notification and notice issued by the state government on January 19, 2023.

Stipends

1. Stipends to be increased by 15 per cent

2. Verbal commitment that stipends will be credited to PGs by the 10th of each month

3. Clearing of pending stipends for February and March.