Chennai: The Federation of Government Doctors Associations (FOGDA) in Tamil Nadu announced on Saturday that it will begin an indefinite hunger strike on March 5, citing the State government’s inaction on their long-pending demands for pay revision and career progression.
FOGDA represents
nearly 15,000 government doctors across Tamil Nadu, has been advocating for
the fulfilment of four key demands: implementation of GO 354, which has been pending since 2017, to compress the present
DACP to provide early PB4 to Government Doctors, Allotting Rs. 3,000 for
Primary Health Center (PHC) doctors, reinstating the 1500 posts that were lost
due to the implementation of GO4 (D)2 H&FW dt15.02.2019, and providing
stand-alone PG increments.Also Read:Kerala Govt doctors announce march to DME office amid ongoing strike“We have met with the Honourable
Minister for Health and Family Welfare several times to discuss our issues.
Furthermore, multiple official meetings have been conducted in the presence of
the Health Secretary to deliberate on these grievances. We have been consistently raised through
proper channels to draw the attention of the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu,” the association stated.
In 2024, the association already
requested the government to implement G.O. Ms. No.354 issued by the Health and
Family Welfare Department on October 23, 2009, relating to the Dynamic Assured
Career Progression scheme. The association also sought a reduction in the
duration required for time-bound promotions and pay progression, which
currently stands at 8, 15, 17 and 20 years. According to FOGDA, this matter has
remained unresolved since 2017.
The federation had also
demanded amendments to G.O.(Ms) No.293 dated June 18, 2021. Specifically, it sought
the removal of a statement in Paragraph 3 of the order that reads, “There is no
justification for the advancement of Dynamic Assured Career Progression.”
Additionally, it called for the elimination of the classification of
specialities as “scarce” and “non-scarce,” and the distinction between
“difficult” and “non-difficult” categories for MBBS doctors. The association further
urged that the increment components mentioned in the same government order be
placed under a separate sub-clause.
FOGDA noted that,
following a joint representation by various doctors’ associations, the
government had earlier amended the first-cited order by withdrawing the
categorisation of scarce and non-scarce specialities for granting allowances to
doctors holding postgraduate degrees or diplomas.
In a government order
issued by the Additional Chief Secretary in 2024, the government assured that to
address other demands raised by doctors’ bodies, the government had decided to
form a committee comprising the Director of Public Health and Preventive
Medicine, the Director of Medical Education and Research, and the Director of
Medical and Rural Health Services. The panel was tasked with examining the
associations’ requests in detail. The Director of Public Health and Preventive
Medicine was directed to consolidate the committee’s observations and submit a
comprehensive report with specific remarks to the government. However, all the
demands of the doctors have not been addressed yet.Also Read:Madras HC Strikes Down Non-Compete Clauses Targeting Doctors“No concrete steps have
been seen. Following these efforts, a negotiation was held on January 19, 2026,
involving officials from the Finance Department, who assured us that an
appropriate solution would be reached. Despite
these assurances, a resolution has not yet been achieved. Consequently, the
Federation organized a non-cooperation movement, a 48-hour hunger strike, and a
march to submit a petition at the Kalaignar Statue,” the association stated. Since no solution has
been provided, the Executive Committee of the Federation has decided to
initiate a fast-unto-death. This indefinite hunger strike will commence on March
5, 2026, in Chennai, and it will be headed by Dr P. Balakrishnan, Dr P.
Saminathan, Dr M. Akilan and Dr C. Sundaresan.Â