Junior doctors across Madhya Pradesh have temporarily suspended their state-wide strike after a crucial meeting between the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla. The association has decided to defer the agitation until March 16 following assurances from the state government regarding stipend revision and clearance of pending arrears.
8,000 Doctors Joined Protest Over Stipend Revision
Earlier, around 8,000 junior resident doctors, senior residents, and interns from government medical colleges across the state had joined the protest demanding the implementation of revised stipends and payment of arrears.
Although the revised stipend structure is scheduled to come into effect from April 1, 2025, doctors alleged that the arrears linked to the revision had not been cleared despite repeated representations to the authorities. The delay prompted junior doctors to launch a state-wide strike that significantly affected medical services in government hospitals.
Government Assures Action, Doctors Pause Agitation
Following the meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister and health department officials, representatives of the Junior Doctors’ Association said the government showed a positive approach and assured them that administrative action would be taken soon.
Kuldeep Gupta, former president of the association, stated that the discussions were constructive and that the government promised to issue formal orders addressing the stipend issue. Based on these assurances, the doctors agreed to suspend the strike temporarily until March 16.
However, JDA leaders warned that if the government fails to issue official orders by the deadline, the agitation will resume with greater intensity across all government-run medical institutions in Madhya Pradesh.
Hospital Services Disrupted, Surgeries Postponed
The strike had led to widespread disruption in medical college hospitals, highlighting the crucial role played by junior doctors in day-to-day healthcare services.
At Gandhi Medical College and its associated Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal, more than 20 scheduled surgeries were cancelled or postponed due to the absence of junior doctors from routine duties.
On a typical day, the hospital performs more than 60 surgeries. However, during the strike, only around three dozen procedures could be completed by evening.
Patients Wait for Hours as OPDs Shift to Tents
While emergency services such as cesarean deliveries continued, outpatient departments (OPDs) were forced to function from temporary tents. This led to long queues of patients waiting for hours under the sun.
Many patients reported difficulties in accessing treatment. One patient suffering from severe leg pain said he had been wandering in the hospital since morning without receiving medical attention.
Expectant mothers anxiously awaited consultations, surgical patients saw their procedures postponed, and those seeking routine care were left uncertain about when services would resume.
Hospital authorities maintained that life-saving services were not compromised during the strike, but the situation underscored the heavy dependence of public hospitals on junior doctors for essential healthcare delivery.
With the strike now temporarily suspended, attention has shifted to the government’s next move. The coming days will be crucial, as junior doctors await formal orders on stipend revision and arrears before deciding whether to resume their protest.
