Why junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh are protesting
Junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh began a phased strike on August 11, 2026, over a long-prepared stipend revision due from January 1, 2026. Talks with the government failed to secure a satisfactory raise, triggering broader emergency-service withdrawals across all government medical colleges.
Key takeaways
- APJUDA began a phased strike on August 11, 2026, demanding a stipend revision due since January 1, 2026.
- The government offered 3% annual raise for postgraduates and 5% for house surgeons/interns, while APJUDA seeks 30%.
- All 19 government medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh are involved, with about 9,000 junior doctors affected.
- The dispute involves Government Order No. 287 (2009) and revisions in 2019 and 2024; 2026 revision remains unsettled.
- In addition to stipends, APJUDA seeks adherence to National Medical Commission norms for faculty recruitment and opposes raising retirement age from 62 to 65.
What Happened
Junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh, organized as the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors’ Association (APJUDA), began a phased strike on August 11, 2026. They are demanding a stipend revision due since January 1, 2026, and have escalated from withdrawing non-emergency services to also withdrawing emergency services as of August 17. The withdrawal affects Intensive Care Units, casualty wards, and labour rooms in government medical colleges and teaching hospitals across the state.
The dispute stems from Government Order No. 287, issued on December 17, 2009, which provides for a biennial stipend revision of about 15% linked to inflation. Revisions occurred in 2019 and 2024. The 2026 revision, due January 1, was not implemented, leading APJUDA to notify the government in July and threaten a strike from August 4. Talks were delayed and a two-day meeting was planned in Mangalagiri with attendance from representatives of all government medical colleges. The government offered a 3% annual hike for postgraduate junior doctors and 5% for house surgeons and interns, while APJUDA demanded a 30% increase. The government described 30% as "abnormal" but acknowledged the demand as justified and said it was exploring options after reviewing models used in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Doctors justify the 30% figure by citing roughly 5% annual inflation in Andhra Pradesh, which translates to about 10% over two years since the last revision, framing the 2026 revision as catch-up rather than a forward-looking increase. They also point to a higher workload, including a three-hour extension to outpatient department timings over the past year and the digitisation of health records. Besides the stipend issue, APJUDA is asking for strict adherence to National Medical Commission norms for recruiting MSc and PhD holders to clinical faculty posts and opposing a proposed rise in the retirement age for doctors from 62 to 65 years, arguing it would limit opportunities for younger entrants.
Why It Matters
The protest highlights a funding and staffing dispute that could affect patient access to services across all government medical colleges in the state, including emergency care capacity. A broad withdrawal of both non-emergency and emergency services risks straining public hospitals and may influence patient outcomes and trust in public health infrastructure. The ongoing clash over retirement age and faculty recruitment also signals potential longer-term effects on medical education and workforce composition in Andhra Pradesh.
Background
The policy framework behind the dispute is Government Order No. 287 (2009), which envisages a biennial stipend revision for junior doctors aligned to inflation. Revisions occurred in 2019 and 2024. In July, APJUDA formally communicated its demand for the 2026 revision and signaled a strike if no written assurance was provided. Negotiations included a plan for a two-day meeting at the APIIC Building in Mangalagiri, with attendance from representatives of every government medical college. The government cited models from Tamil Nadu and Kerala as benchmarks while maintaining a stance that a 30% raise was not a standard approach.
Key Facts
- Phase I of the strike started on August 11, 2026, with withdrawal of non-emergency services from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; emergency and ICU services remained open.
- Phase II began on August 12, expanding non-emergency withdrawals to 9 a.m.-4 p.m., while maintaining emergency and ICU services.
- All 19 government medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh participated, including six established in the last two years and institutions such as Andhra Medical College (Visakhapatnam), Guntur Medical College, Siddhartha Medical College (Vijayawada), Kurnool Medical College, and the medical college in Kadapa.
- APJUDA estimates about 9,000 junior doctors are involved statewide.
- APJUDA’s additional demands include adherence to National Medical Commission norms for faculty hiring of MSc/PhD holders and opposition to raising the retirement age from 62 to 65.
- The government’s position on the 2026 revision is that a 30% increase is considered abnormal, with exploration of options ongoing after reviewing other states’ models.
What Happens Next
Negotiations are described as ongoing, with no written assurance yet provided for the 2026 stipend revision. No concrete timetable for a resolution or future strike escalation is stated in the material. The government indicated it is reviewing stipend-revision approaches and comparing models from other states as part of its consideration process.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
Related stories
Railways to install water filtration at 20,000 sites after E. coli findings
Vice-President says death over drugs painful; anti-drug pledge at SRM convocation
Bombay HC: community health volunteers entitled to minimum wage
