Junior doctors call off strike, says patients' health first priority
The Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association called off the strike on Thursday after receiving assurance from Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao regarding stipend hike.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 27 May 2021 3:09 PM GMT
Hyderabad: The Telangana Junior Doctors' Association called off the strike on Thursday after receiving assurance from Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao regarding stipend hike. The junior doctors said that patients' health was their first priority and they will report for duties from 9 p.m Thursday.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has asked Junior Doctors to call off their strike keeping in view the overall public health and the existing COVID pandemic in the state. Urging them to resume duties immediately, he made it clear that the government had never discriminated against junior doctors and they are ready to meet their just demands.
On Wednesday, KCR held a review meeting at Pragati Bhavan here with Medical and Health officials on the COVID situation, vaccination programme and other issues.
TJUDA, in a statement on Thursday, said, "After detailed bilateral talks with the principal secretary for the ministry of health and family welfares and director of medical education (DME), we TJUDA members express our gratitude to the Chief Minister and health authorities for addressing the stipend hike for interns, PGs, SS PGs, SR's and also allocation of beds for doctors and their family members in NIMS hospital."
The junior doctors were demanding a 15 per cent hike in stipend, 10 per cent incentives announced by the state government, and a separate block in Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) for healthcare workers and their families.
They had started their strike on 26 May along with senior resident doctors of medical colleges in the state. On Thursday, the DME increased the stipend of senior resident doctors from Rs. 70,000 per month to Rs. 80,500 per month (consolidated) with effect from 1 January 2021.
These associations were also demanding ex-gratia for families of healthcare workers who have succumbed to COVID-19.
"The only issue that was not completely addressed was the ex-gratia for martyred healthcare workers from the state government. Health officials gave us verbal assurance that alternatives for ex-gratia will be discussed with the CM. We hope this issue will be addressed as early as possible to honour the martyred healthcare workers and support their dependents," said TJUDA.
