Telangana AYUSH students, house surgeons and post-graduate doctors have called off their 28-day strike on Monday following an assurance from Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha that their long-pending demand for a stipend hike would be addressed.

A delegation of AYUSH students, house surgeons, postgraduate doctors and student leaders met the Minister in Hyderabad and informed him of their grievances.  The delegation highlighted the demand for an increase in stipends for AYUSH house surgeons and postgraduate doctors, which they said had remained pending for nearly a decade. They sought parity with the stipends paid to their allopathy counterparts.

“The Minister heard our concerns and assured us that the government would take a positive decision on increasing AYUSH stipends to a level on par with allopathy. He also assured us that the necessary procedures would be completed and an official Government Order (GO) would be issued soon,” said a statement from the doctors.

Following the assurance, the AYUSH students and doctors announced the withdrawal of their indefinite strike.

The Marri Chenna Reddy Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (MCR TIMS), Sanathnagar, is set to begin providing medical services to people soon, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expected to inaugurate the hospital.

Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha announced this on Saturday after inspecting the hospital and reviewing preparations for its launch. He inspected the infrastructure, medical departments, staffing, security and other support systems. He also interacted with doctors, medical staff and employees to assess the hospital’s readiness to begin operations.

Following the inspection, the Minister held a review meeting with officials from the Health Department, Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department and other agencies and directed them to complete all pending works on a war footing and ensure that the hospital is fully equipped to provide comprehensive medical services from the day of its inauguration.

The Minister sought details on medical service management, infrastructure, human resources, non-medical services, electricity and water supply, sanitation, security and fire safety arrangements. He instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to ensure that all systems function in coordination and that patients do not face any inconvenience when services commence.

He also stressed the need to ensure adequate staffing, including doctors, nurses, paramedical personnel, technicians and administrative staff, according to the hospital’s requirements. All departments and support services are to be made operational before the launch.

“Dr. MCR TIMS is ready to provide quality, state-of-the-art medical services to people. We are rapidly completing the remaining arrangements for the hospital’s inauguration. We will soon have the hospital inaugurated by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and make it accessible to the people,” the Minister added.

Concerns over Telangana’s public healthcare system surfaced on Thursday after social activist Robin Zaccheus detailed his family’s experience during a medical emergency, prompting a response from Telangana Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, who announced disciplinary action and an inquiry.

In a post on X, Mr. Zaccheus alleged that it took nearly 40 minutes for a 108 ambulance to reach his residence in Malkajgiri after a senior member of his family suffered a stroke. He further claimed that after the patient was shifted to the District Medical Hospital in Malkajgiri, doctors there referred the patient to Gandhi Hospital. The same ambulance driver allegedly refused to transport the patient further, insisting that a fresh allocation had to be made through the 108 system.

The activist also described overcrowding at Gandhi Hospital’s emergency ward, alleging shortage of beds, stretchers and wheelchairs. Responding to the allegations, the Minister said the ambulance driver, Kailash Rathod, had been suspended for negligence and violation of protocol. He added that notices had also been issued to sanitation and patient care contractors at Gandhi Hospital over the reported deficiencies.