Telangana Women's Commission Intervenes in Maternity Leave Stipend Dispute for PG Medical Candidates
The Telangana Women's Commission recently convened a crucial meeting in Hyderabad with representatives from the Telangana State Resident Doctors Association (TSRDA) to address long-standing issues concerning pending stipend payments for postgraduate medical candidates. The discussions specifically focused on the 2021 batch of post-graduate candidates who availed maternity leave and subsequently completed their extensions in June 2025, bringing to light systemic challenges in the healthcare education framework.
Systemic Gaps in Maternity Leave Provisions During Senior Residency
During the meeting, TSRDA members highlighted a critical lack of maternity leave provisions during the senior resident internship period. This gap has created a difficult situation for candidates, forcing them to choose between two unsatisfactory options. They can either accept a nine-month experience certificate, which falls short of the required duration, or work without pay to meet the mandatory 12-month experience requirement necessary for eligibility in assistant professor recruitment. This issue underscores broader concerns about gender equity and support for women in medical professions.
Recent Administrative Measures to Support Women Medical Students
In a related development earlier this month, the state health department took a progressive step by waiving the 15,000 readmission fee for PG medical students rejoining their colleges after availing maternity leave. This move aims to reduce financial burdens and encourage continuity in education for women students. Additionally, the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) has directed college principals to allow women students to utilize any eligible leave that remained unused at the time of rejoining, further facilitating their academic and professional journeys.
Implications for Future Policy and Recruitment
The discussions at the Telangana Women's Commission have brought significant attention to the lack of maternity leave provisions during senior residency, a gap that affects career progression for many women in medicine. Currently, candidates who take maternity leave face a dilemma: they are either issued a nine-month experience certificate or must work without pay to fulfill the 12-month experience needed for assistant professor posts. This situation not only impacts individual candidates but also raises questions about the inclusivity and fairness of recruitment policies in the medical education sector.
These developments highlight ongoing efforts to address gender-specific challenges in medical education and employment in Telangana. By engaging with stakeholders like the TSRDA, the Women's Commission is working towards creating a more supportive environment for women pursuing careers in healthcare, ensuring that maternity leave does not become a barrier to professional advancement.
