The government doctors’ protest in Tamil Nadu has intensified after negotiations with state health officials failed to resolve long-standing demands, according to organizers of the movement. Doctors began a 48-hour hunger strike this week, and the agitation has now entered a more vigorous phase with broader non-cooperation measures.
Led by the Government Doctors’ Associations’ Federation, the protest was initially launched two days ago at the Stanley Government Medical College Hospital campus in Chennai. When discussions between senior doctors and government representatives failed to yield an agreement, doctors decided to escalate their actions from Friday
Dr. Balakrishnan, coordinating the protest, said that doctors have been urging the government for more than four years to fulfill key demands, including pay revisions, better working conditions and higher allowances for primary health centre doctors. With no satisfactory progress, doctors have announced they will boycott certain duties as part of their intensified stance.
Under the new phase of protest, government medical doctors are refusing to participate in routine administrative activities such as biometric attendance, official meetings (in person and online), and medical student teaching sessions, though they insist that essential medical care and emergency services will continue uninterrupted.
The federation has said that the protest will continue without cooperation until February 4, when the state committee will meet to decide the next steps if their demands remain unmet.