Andhra junior doctors to continue strike as talks with govt. make no headway

Junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh have extended their strike on Thursday, August 20, as discussions with the government have not yielded any progress. The delegation met with Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, but the Association of Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors (APJUDA) stated that there was no headway made in resolving their concerns.

The Health Department released a press statement, informing the doctors that the government was unable to continue the 15% biennial stipend hike. However, the Minister assured the doctors that their other two demands – adherence to National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations and opposition to the proposed retirement age increase – would not be affected.

The association had initially demanded a 30% biennial revision in stipends, but they have now scaled it down to a 20% increase. The doctors argued that the proposed 3% and 5% annual hikes were insufficient and did not account for the current rate of inflation. They emphasized that a 15% increase in stipends would result in an additional annual expenditure of ₹87.91 crore, which constitutes roughly 0.5% of the health department's budget for 2026-27 and 0.03% of the state budget for the same period.

Despite the setback, the junior doctors, senior residents, and interns vowed to continue their strike. Earlier that night, candlelight rallies were held at various government hospitals, protesting the government's offer. These demonstrations are expected to persist for the remainder of the tenth day of the strike, which is already the fourth since emergency services were withdrawn.