Tamil Nadu Doctors Demand Doubled Staff Amidst Rising Patient Load

Tamil Nadu's government doctors, represented by the Legal Coordination Committee (LCC), have called for a significant increase in staffing. Ahead of the state's interim budget presentation on February 17, 2026, the LCC urged the government to double the number of sanctioned posts for doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel in public hospitals.

The committee president, S. Perumal Pillai, stated on Sunday, February 15, 2026, that while numerous primary health centers and government hospitals have been established since the DMK government took office, no new positions have been created to staff them. This has led to doctors and nurses being redeployed from existing facilities, placing immense pressure on both the staff and the patients they serve.

Specific examples, such as Ammampettai and Kandiaperi government hospitals, were cited where staff transfers occurred without the creation of new posts. Furthermore, the LCC emphasized that long-standing demands, including the implementation of G.O. 354 for pay parity, remain unaddressed. The doctors highlighted that MBBS doctors in Tamil Nadu receive lower remuneration compared to their counterparts in other Indian states. The committee's broader demands include doubling sanctioned posts, implementing pay band-4 after 12 years of service, and providing government employment to the spouse of Dr. Vivekanandan, who passed away while serving during the COVID-19 pandemic.