Junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh have intensified their ongoing protest, extending their boycott to emergency services and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) after eight days of strike action. The escalation has affected critical hospital services, including maternal and paediatric care, prompting medical institutions to deploy senior faculty members and assistant surgeons to maintain essential services.

The strike is being led by the Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) and has reportedly spread across all 19 government medical colleges, involving around 9,000 resident doctors, interns, junior and senior residents, super-speciality postgraduates and doctors under the District Residency Programme. The doctors are demanding a revision of stipends, which they say has been pending since January 1, and have sought a 15% increase under the existing periodic revision framework. The protest initially affected non-emergency and elective services, while emergency departments, ICUs, labour rooms and emergency surgeries continued to function. However, following unsuccessful talks and the absence of a written, time-bound assurance from the state government, APJUDA escalated the agitation to include casualty, ICU and labour-room duties.

Hospital administrations have reportedly activated contingency measures, with senior faculty members and assistant surgeons being deployed to manage critical services. The escalation has raised concerns over disruptions to emergency, maternal and paediatric care at government teaching hospitals and medical institutions across the state.

The ongoing agitation highlights growing pressure on the Andhra Pradesh healthcare system as negotiations over stipend revisions continue. With thousands of doctors participating and critical care services now affected, the resolution of the dispute is likely to depend on whether the state government and APJUDA can reach an agreement on a written and time-bound commitment regarding the doctors’ demands.