Resident Doctors of GMC Jammu Announce Strike Over Unpaid Stipends

Jammu, 02-April-2024 : Resident doctors at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu have formally announced their decision to initiate a strike, effective from 10:00 a.m. on April 3, 2024. This strike will lead to a complete shutdown of both outpatient department (OPD) and emergency services until the issue of non-disbursement of stipends is resolved. The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of GMC Jammu conveyed their concerns regarding the timely payment of salaries, which have remained unaddressed despite repeated attempts at dialogue and negotiation. Over the past two months, no stipends have been credited to any residents, including first-year postgraduate (PG) residents who have not received any payout for the past six months since joining GMC Jammu in September-October 2023. Residents at GMC Jammu express discontent with their comparatively low stipends, which are already lower than those of their counterparts in other states and union territories (UTs). The irregular and delayed disbursement of stipends adds to their demotivation and hampers their efficiency in delivering healthcare services. The RDA urges the administration to expedite the process of salary disbursement to prevent any disruption in patient care. They emphasize that failure to credit stipends to the accounts of all PG and senior resident (SR) students will leave them with no choice but to proceed with the strike, thereby significantly affecting healthcare delivery in the region. Despite multiple meetings held with the administration, the process of enhancing stipends for resident doctors has been delayed. The RDA hopes for a swift and amicable resolution to the matter before the strike commences on April 3, 2024, to minimize inconvenience to both the hospital administration and the patients. The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu issued this notice on April 1, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., signed by President Dr. Shubham Surmal, Vice Presidents Dr. Sandeep, Dr. Nasir, and Dr. Sawan.