As the Primary Health Centre (PHC) doctors’ strike entered the third day on Wednesday (October 1, 2025), officials from the department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, A.P., have agreed to allocate in-service quota to all 15 clinical branches instead of just 7.
According to an official release from the department, Principal Secretary Saurabh Gaur and Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G. Veerapandian held a discussion with the representatives of the A.P. Primary Health Centres’ Doctors’ Association on Wednesday evening at the Secretariat.
The PHC doctors, who suspended all services, both outpatient and emergency, at all PHCs in Andhra Pradesh from Monday, demanded that the quota finalised for them in admissions into PG courses for the year 2025-26 be reconsidered. Their decision to boycott duties came after the State government brought down the quota for them from 20% to 15% in clinical branches for the current academic year. The government also restricted the 15% quota to 7 clinical branches. There was no reservation for PHC doctors in the remaining 8 clinical branches.
During Wednesday’s discussions, while there was no word on increasing the in-service quota, officials of the health department have reportedly agreed to the doctors’ demand to allocate 15% quota to all clinical branches. In response to the doctors’ demand for continuing the same agreement for three years, the health officials assured the doctors that they would take this up for discussion in November.
The meeting also discussed other demands, including time-bound promotions and monthly allowances for PHC doctors working in remote areas. According to association representatives, the health officials have suggested that promotions would be given without any increment. “Regarding allowances, they said they would have to send a report to the finance department,” Vinod Kumar, the association’s spokesperson.
The association has asked for time to respond to the department’s suggestions.
While the officials appealed to the doctors to resume duties, representatives of the association have decided to continue their strike until they arrive at a decision. “Last year too, the government promised that it would resolve our issues, but all of them fell flat,” Dr. Vinod Kumar said.
Published – October 02, 2025 04:53 pm IST
