A review meeting on the issues will be held on October 22

The government doctors of King George Hospital (KGH) and Andhra Medical College (AMC) and peripheral hospitals who boycotted their duties at the out-patient wards, barring the emergency services, on Tuesday in protest against the ‘lopsided policy’ related to time-bound promotions and other issues have withdrawn their strike after a promise by the government to consider their demands.

After a meeting was held by Special Chief Secretary (Health) Poonam Malakondaiah and Director of Medical Education K. Babji, the A.P. Government Doctors’ Association (APGDA) was promised concrete action. A review meeting on the issue has been slated for October 22.

Career scheme

“We called off the strike in response to the promise by the top officials. At the meeting, the Director of Medical Education promised to specify a timeline for the implementation of Career Advancement Scheme and take action against the non-members of the APGDA for serving the strike notice and move the Pay Revision Commission file,” APGDA secretary S. Dhanyasri said.

On the government decision to regularise the doctors appointed at the Rajiv Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and merge them in the government service in the cadres of professor and associate professor, the association leaders were promised that the merger decision would be finalised, in consultation with the A.P. Government Doctors’ Association.

Black badge protest

The government doctors have been opposing the G.O. that allowed the appointment of contract doctors in the regular stream at the RIMS, Srikakulam.Meanwhile, the Visakhapatnam unit of the APGDA has decided to organise a black badge protest for an hour in front of the KGH Superintendent’s office for two weeks without affecting the daily work. Welcoming the minutes of the meeting, the association warned of resuming the agitation if the authorities reneged on the promises.