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The Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) on Friday, August 21, rejected the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led state government's press note issued on August 19, saying the proposed stipend revisions do not reflect the financial realities faced by junior doctors.
The Association welcomed the government's proposal to introduce an annual stipend revision mechanism but objected to the figures and comparisons presented. It said several key demands related to medical education and working conditions had also been left unaddressed.
APJUDA said the proposed 5% hike for interns and 3% annual increment for postgraduate (PG) and super-speciality residents would effectively amount to a reduction in real income, given the state's inflation rate of around 10%. APJUDA demanded a 20% fitment correction in 2026, followed by an annual revision linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate plus 3% real growth.
The Association also said its stipend-related demands would account for only around 0.6% of the State's Rs 19,264 crore healthcare budget for 2026-27. It argued that junior doctors contribute significantly to healthcare delivery and generate reimbursements under schemes such as Dr NTR Vaidya Seva and Ayushman Bharat.
APJUDA further demanded strict implementation of the National Medical Commission's (NMC) 15% limit on non-medical faculty appointments in pre-clinical and para-clinical departments. It claimed that the proportion of such appointments in Andhra Pradesh currently stands at 27% to 30%. The association also demanded a complete ban on non-medical personnel undertaking clinical teaching or duties.
APJUDA has given the TDP-led government two days to convene high-level talks and issue a comprehensive Government Order addressing its key demands. If no action is taken, the association said it would intensify its democratic protest in the next phase.
