Rohit Shishodia
Around 2000 doctors of Osmania Medical College and Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad remained on strike for the third consecutive day against Telangana government’s proposal of hiking retirement age of teaching doctors. The strike was called by the Telangana Junior Doctors Association on June 18, 2019.

More than 100 doctors have also sent post cards to the state governor and urged him not to approve any ordinance that seeks hiking the retirement age. The doctors,  in a symbolic gesture, also gave a representation against hiking the age of retirement to statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi Medical College.

The Osmania Medical College and the Gandhi Medical College receive over 3500 patients per day for treatment in Out Patient Department.

The patients faced a hard time due to the ongoing strike. Routine treatment services such as surgeries are highly affected.   

The doctors said that they can continue the strike if government does not take back its proposal of hiking the retirement age of doctors.

They said that this move will hinder the employment chances of young doctors as senior doctors will retire late and their entry in hospital will be delayed.

The Telangana government has proposed to hike the retirement age of senior doctors or teachers from 58 to 65 years.