Telangana Junior Doctors Association calls off strike

The members of Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) have called off their two-day strike and have decided to report back to their regular medical duties from 9 pm at all government teaching hospitals on Thursday.

The decision to call off the protests was taken following assurances from Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to address the grievances raised by the medicos and senior residents. While calling off the protests, the junior doctors expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for addressing them at the earliest.

“Keeping patient’s health as our first priority and also our responsibility to serve them during the present pandemic crisis, we are calling off the strike and will report to duties from 9 pm on Thursday,” the TJUDA members said.

Earlier on Thursday, Secretary, Health, Medical and Family Welfare, SAM Rizvi in the presence of Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr K Ramesh Reddy, held detailed talks with members of TJUDA. The Health Secretary relayed Chief Minister’s assurances to address



each and every issue that has been raised by the junior doctors in the last few months.

Following the talks with the Health Secretary, the members of JUDA and Telangana Senior Residents Association held an internal meeting to decide future course of action.

“After detailed bilateral talks with the Health Secretary and DME, we express our gratitude to the Chief Minister for addressing stipend hike for interns, PGs and senior residents. We also thank him for allocating beds for doctors and their family members at NIMS Hospital,” the TJUDA said.

The junior doctors said that the senior health officials have given the verbal assurances to implement ex-gratia of Rs. 50 lakh to healthcare workers who have lost their lives due to Covid-19.

“We hope that this issue will be addressed by the Chief Minister as early as possible. It is very important to honour healthcare workers and their dependents during the Covid pandemic,” the medicos said.