AP Govt hikes stipend to house surgeons, PG doctors

Tirupati: The State government enhanced the stipend to interns and PG doctors of medical and dental colleges following a long pending demand. However, the junior doctors are not satisfied with the hike and point out that the government failed to follow the recommendations made by a panel.

The government issued orders on Tuesday (GO Ms No.64) to this effect and accordingly the house surgeons will hereafter get Rs 15,187 as against Rs 12,167. 

Similarly, PG degree doctors will get Rs 35,589 as against Rs 27,376 during their first year, Rs 37566 in second year and Rs 39543 in third year. PG diploma pursuing candidates will also get the same stipend.

Those doing their super speciality courses will get Rs 39,543 in first year, Rs 41,521 in second year and Rs 43,497 in third year. The hike will be applied with effect from January 1, 2018.

But, members of the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) have been expressing their displeasure over the hike which they said was lower than the recommendations made by the Committee appointed by the government.

For instance, the Committee recommended Rs 40,000 for PG first year students but the government has increased the pension to only Rs 35,589. Similarly, for 1st year Super Speciality candidates, the Committee has proposed Rs 50,000 whereas the government enhanced the stipend only to Rs 39,543. For interns also the Committee has recommended Rs 17,000.

Another point of discontent for the JUDAs was that while the hike was due from 2016, the government has decided to make it applicable only from January 2018.  JUDAs requested the government to increase stipend by 40 per cent from 2018 but they got only 30 per cent hike.