8,000 junior doctors on strike from Monday in MP:OPD services to halt, surgeries likely delayed, only emergency patients to be treated

Around 8,000 resident doctors working in government medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh may go on strike from Monday. Protesting against the non-implementation of pending stipend revisions, junior doctors organised a ‘Justice March’ on Sunday at various medical colleges across the state. Doctors have warned that if their demands are not met, they will stop providing OPD services from Monday. Only critically ill patients will be treated in the Operation Theatre (OT). This could lead to delays for patients awaiting routine procedures such as hernia surgeries and rod implant operations. ‘Justice March’ organised on Sunday In the next phase of the protest, a ‘Justice March’ rally was held on Sunday at the campuses of several government medical colleges across the state. At Gandhi Medical College in the capital Bhopal, resident doctors gathered near the administrative block at around 12 noon. Following this, a rally was taken out across the campus and nearby areas, with doctors raising slogans. Participants said the march was conducted peacefully and the government had been requested to fulfil their demands soon so that the protest does not need to escalate further. 3-day protest with black armbands Resident doctors, senior residents and interns, under the leadership of the Junior Doctors Association (JDA), have been staging a peaceful protest for the past three days. As part of the demonstration, doctors have been wearing black armbands symbolically and demanding a prompt decision from the government. According to the doctors, the protest aims to draw the attention of the government and the responsible authorities towards the issue. Stipend revision order yet to be implemented Dr Brijendra, associated with the JDA, said that according to an order issued by the Madhya Pradesh government on June 7, 2021, the CPI-based stipend amendment was to be implemented from April 1, 2025. However, the revised stipend has not yet been implemented and the arrears pending from April 2025 have also not been paid. Doctors said the government and the concerned departments have been informed about the issue several times, but no concrete decision has been taken so far. Warning of boycott of elective services Junior doctors have warned that if the issue remains unresolved, elective services will be boycotted in all government medical colleges across the state from Monday. However, doctors clarified that emergency services will continue so that critically ill patients do not face difficulties. Demand limited to implementation of existing order The Junior Doctors Association stated that the protest is only about implementing the government’s already issued order and ensuring payment of the pending arrears. Doctors said that if the government takes a quick decision, the protest will be called off, but if their demands are ignored, the agitation will be intensified further.