health

Junior doctors' strike in Andhra Pradesh enters seventh day; emergency services hit

Published on: 23 Aug 2026, 10:12 AM

Junior doctors, senior residents and interns in Andhra Pradesh continued their strike at government teaching hospitals for the seventh consecutive day on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The doctors have stopped attending to emergency services, affecting patient care across the state.

The strike, which began on August 17, has also disrupted academic activities at medical colleges. Doctors have been holding rallies and relay hunger strikes, pressing the state government to respond to their demands, which include a revision of stipends.

Support for the striking doctors has come from prominent medical bodies. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors' Association (APGDA) and Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV) have termed the demands genuine and called for a resolution.

On Saturday, PAV president M.V. Ramanaiah and general secretary T. Kameswara Rao visited the striking doctors at Siddhartha Medical College in Vijayawada and expressed solidarity with them. The PAV members said the demands deserved serious consideration and expressed concern that the prolonged strike was affecting patient care in government teaching hospitals.

Given the heavy patient load in these hospitals, PAV has urged the state government to invite a delegation of the striking doctors for a meaningful dialogue towards an amicable resolution.

Meanwhile, doctors at Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam held a rangoli protest in front of the Superintendent's office at King George Hospital on Sunday. The demonstration was part of the ongoing agitation, with doctors seeking a stipend revision.

The state government has not yet issued an official response to the doctors' demands. The strike has raised concerns about the availability of emergency services in government hospitals, which cater to a large number of patients, particularly those from economically weaker sections.

Medical associations have appealed to both sides to resolve the matter through dialogue, emphasising that the primary focus should remain on patient welfare. The doctors have indicated their willingness to call off the strike if their demands are addressed.

The situation remains tense as the strike continues into its second week. Patient advocacy groups have urged the government to prioritise a swift resolution to prevent further hardship for patients relying on public healthcare facilities.

Source: The Hindu

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