Maternity leave for PG doctors raises financial burden
Maternity leave for PG doctors has turned into a financial burden in Telangana, with a doctors’ association urging the government to waive the rejoining fee charged after maternity leave. The issue affects postgraduate doctors working in government medical colleges.
The Telangana Senior Residents Doctors Association (TSRDA) said PG doctors must pay a rejoining fee after availing maternity leave, which places unfair pressure on young women doctors. The association described the practice as unjustified and insensitive.
According to the doctors’ body, maternity leave is a statutory right and should not attract financial penalties. The policy, they said, reflects deeper systemic gaps in how government medical colleges handle maternity benefits.
Doctors pointed out that many PG students already face financial strain due to long working hours, limited stipends, and rising living costs. Adding a rejoining fee, they argued, discourages women from continuing their medical training.
The association has appealed to the Health Department to intervene and issue clear guidelines. It also called for uniform maternity leave policies across all government medical colleges.
Doctors said fair maternity policies would support gender equity and help retain skilled professionals in the public healthcare syste
