AP Doctors Stage Indefinite Strike, Demand To Fulfil Promises

Visakhapatnam: Demanding the government to fulfill the promises it made, the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) held a protest rally in Visakhapatnam and staged a dharna at the Andhra Medical College (AMC) and at the King George Hospital (KGH) premises on Friday.

The doctors have threatened to boycott emergency medical services, if the state government fails to address their demands by March 10. Resident doctors of government teaching hospitals across Andhra Pradesh are on an indefinite strike.

Apart from seeking AP Medical Council Registrations for all MBBS & postgraduate doctors soon after they receive degree certificates, they have also demanded immediate disbursement of their stipend amounts and urged the government to fulfill its promise of a 15 per cent hike in stipends.

Around 350 junior doctors at KGH and another 300 at other government hospitals in Vizag have suspended their services, barring emergency cases. About 4,000 APJUDA members participated in Friday's strike action across Andhra Pradesh.

"We will continue the strike until March 10. If there is no response by then, we will intensify our strike by boycotting even the emergency duties. The government will have to bear responsibility for what happens after that,” Dr. Kodandaram, APJUDA leader said.