Uttar Pradesh MBBS doctors protest over pay disparity, pending salary arrears; announce work boycott

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) doctors serving under mandatory Uttar Pradesh government service bond rules protested in Lucknow on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), demanding equal pay for equal work and the release of pending salary arrears, leading to a standoff and clash with police.

The doctors also announced a work boycott, adding that no action or decision has been taken despite assurances regarding addressing salary disparity.

“While working at Primary Health Centres (PHC), I receive only around ₹50,000, while batchmates with the same qualification posted in government medical colleges receive a much higher salary in the scale of level-10; even doctors working in the same Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Community Health Centres (CHC) receive over one lakh a month, as they are employed under the National Health Mission (NHM). We are demanding pay parity; our qualifications are the same,” said Animesh Kumar, an MBBS doctor.

Uttar Pradesh requires a two-year compulsory service bond for students with an MBBS or BDS from a State-run government medical college. 

“No action has been taken on assurances regarding salary disparity of doctors posted on a two-year bond. On September 2, 2026, Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brijesh Pathak assured that the government would issue a government order. Despite this, the government order was not issued. We drew the government’s attention to this serious issue through peaceful protests, demonstrations, and meetings with relevant officials. Despite facing salary discrepancies for so long, we have continued our duties and prioritised the interests of patients. The failure to issue a government order despite repeated efforts has increased frustration and anger among us,” said another doctor, Sukriti Pandey. 

The Opposition alleged that it is part of the government’s strategy to disrupt the government’s health sector, so that corporates can take over.

“It is unfortunate that young doctors in U.P. serving in PHC/CHC are forced to agitate on the streets of the capital for their rightful demands of pay parity already promised by the Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister. Samajwadi Party condemns the brutality committed by the police force against young doctors, including female doctors. I feel it is part of the government’s strategy to disrupt the government’s health sector, so that corporates can take over. If Samajwadi Party Govt is formed in 2027, the justified demands of doctors will be fulfilled at the earliest,” said Sudhir Panwar, a senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader. 

“The BJP's primary objective is to damage the trust of all stakeholders, including doctors in the government system. Health is a fundamental necessity of any society. If doctors are paid wrongly and unequally, it will impact their productivity, ultimately damaging the public health system. The BJP wants to help big private corporate players to enter smaller towns and villages, so that people from marginalised sections can be looted by these private hospitals,” said Anil Yadav, a senior U.P. Congress leader.