Government doctors in Tamil Nadu suspended their indefinite hunger strike on Thursday after police intervened at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai following instructions from the hospital administration prohibiting protests inside the campus.
The protest was organized by the Federation of Government Doctors Associations, which represents several associations of government doctors in the state. The hunger strike began around 10 a.m. on the hospital premises as part of a protest over long pending service demands raised by government doctors.
However, by the afternoon, police reached the protest site and informed the doctors that demonstrations inside hospital premises required prior permission. The hospital administration also stepped in and issued a directive asking the protesting doctors to vacate the campus.
Around 4 p.m., the dean of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital instructed the doctors to stop the protest and leave the premises immediately. The administration also warned that disciplinary action could be initiated if the protest continued inside the hospital campus.
Following the intervention by police and the directive from the hospital administration, the doctors decided to suspend the indefinite hunger strike.
The hunger strike was part of a larger protest by government doctors seeking action on several pending demands related to service conditions and career progression.
The Federation of Government Doctors Associations has been urging the Tamil Nadu government to address these issues for several years. Doctors say resolving these demands is essential to improve their working conditions and strengthen public healthcare services in the state.
The key demands raised by the federation include implementation and review of Government Order 354 issued in 2009 concerning pay revision and promotions, a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 for doctors working in Primary Health Centers, and the introduction of standalone postgraduate increments.
The doctors have also demanded the restoration of nearly 1,500 medical posts that were removed during a restructuring exercise and the creation of additional posts in government hospitals based on patient load.
The Federation of Government Doctors Associations had earlier announced that government doctors would begin an indefinite hunger strike from March 5, 2026 if their demands were not addressed.
Before launching the protest, representatives of the doctors’ body had held discussions with the state Health Secretary. During the meeting, the Health Secretary reportedly assured the doctors that the issues would be discussed with the Finance Department.
However, as no concrete action followed the discussions, the federation decided to proceed with the hunger strike to draw attention to the unresolved issues.
Even as they suspended the hunger strike, the Federation of Government Doctors Associations criticized the intervention by authorities that led to the protest being halted.
The federation said the action restricted the right of government doctors to stage a peaceful protest and raise concerns related to their service conditions and professional issues.
Doctors’ representatives indicated that they may decide on further steps if the state government does not address their long pending demands.
(Rh/ARC)
