Andhra doctors suspend strike over stipend, retirement age after court intervention

The Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association has temporarily called off its strike, saying it did so in the best interests of patients and to ensure continuity of care. The association said it expected the state government to respond to its demands and reach an amicable solution at the earliest.

APJUDA said the Andhra Pradesh High Court had asked it to end the strike and continue patient services, while directing the government to resolve the issues within two weeks. It said the strike had only been suspended for now and that its pursuit of justice would continue through other means, including legal options if no settlement was reached.

In a release issued late on Tuesday, the association said the High Court had appreciated the efforts of doctors in managing healthcare in the state and had acknowledged their genuine demands. It quoted the court order as saying, "The Divisional Bench of High Court of Andhra Pradesh instructed AP JUDA to call off strike and continue patient services and further directed the state government to resolve the issue within two weeks."

APJUDA also said the court had assured it that it could approach the bench again if its demands were not resolved within the two-week period ending on September 7.

Andhra Pradesh Health and Medical Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav said on Tuesday that the government would take an appropriate decision after examining the stipend and other benefits given to junior doctors in other states.

The junior doctors have mainly sought an increase in stipend and have also opposed the proposed increase in the retirement age. APJUDA said its demands included a stipend hike for interns, postgraduates, super-speciality postgraduates and senior residents with effect from January 1, 2026, strict adherence to National Medical Commission rules for the recruitment of non-medical faculty, and opposition to raising the retirement age to 65 years.

The association said it had been submitting representations to government officials, including the health minister, since December 2025 seeking the stipend increase, but had received only verbal assurances and no official written response. It also said it was ready for negotiations and had agreed to reduce its demand for a 30 per cent stipend hike to 15 per cent.

A public interest litigation was filed by a social activist against the government and APJUDA on August 24. APJUDA said the first hearing took place without notice to the association or its representatives, after which the High Court directed the petitioner to serve notice on it. The association said it received the notice late on August 24 and represented itself before the High Court on August 25. Following the court's directions, APJUDA members met Minister Yadav and senior officials, discussed the next course of action, and another round of talks was scheduled for August 27.

APJUDA said it had issued an official strike notice on July 21, stating that a phase-wise strike would begin on August 4, but postponed it by a week after the Health Department sought more time. With no written assurances or government order, it began the phase-wise strike on August 10.

Phase 0 involved attending duties with black badges, while Phase I from August 11 involved partial withdrawal of OPD and non-emergency services between 9 am and 1 pm. Phase II began on August 12 with complete withdrawal of non-emergency services through the day and a relay hunger strike. APJUDA had planned to move to Phase III from August 17, with complete withdrawal of services by interns, PGs, SS PGs and senior residents, including emergency and ICU services.

It said only four discussions were held with government officials during the strike, on August 10, 11, 15 and 24, and none led to a favourable solution. For now, the strike has been paused after the High Court's intervention, with the doctors awaiting the government's response within the timeline set by the court.