PHC doctors participating in a relay hunger strike, opposing Government Order 99, on the seventh day of their protest, at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada on Monday.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI
Doctors working in area and district hospitals, community health centres, and health workers’ unions will join the PHC doctors’ protest from Tuesday (October 7), according to A.P. PHC Doctors’ Association members.
On Monday, doctors from these hospitals, falling under the purview of the Directorate of Secondary Health (DSH), gave their strike notices to the Health department officials, the association members said. However, DSH doctors were unavailable for a reply regarding the same.
At present, more than 2,800 primary health centre (PHC) doctors have been taking part in protests across the State. They have been on a strike since September 29.
It may be noted that the government had issued orders last week deputing doctors working in area, district and teaching hospitals, and those working in community health centres and PHCs to ensure that medical services were provided to the public in rural areas without any interruption. With the doctors from these hospitals also joining the protest, it remains to be seen what alternative measures the government is going to take to address the gap.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G. Veerapandian said the government is coming up with an alternative plan to ensure that the services in PHCs are not disrupted with the participation of DSH doctors in the strike.
Over 900 doctors took part in the relay hunger strike at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada on Monday. The doctors said that they would continue the strike until the government gave them a written assurance that it would not go back on its word once again and keep the 20% quota for them in clinical branches fixed for the next five years.
The PHC doctors also plan to launch an indefinite hunger strike if there is no response from the government.
Published – October 06, 2025 11:34 pm IST
