Members of AP PHCs doctors association staging a protest demanding revocation of G.O. no. 85 at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada.
| Photo Credit: File photo
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has approved a proposal from the Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare on the reservation of seats for in-service doctors in Post Graduate (PG) medical courses in the State, effective from the academic year 2025–26.
According to a press release issued by the department on Monday, the in-service quota has been fixed at 15% in seven clinical departments, including General Medicine, General Surgery, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, and Radiology. Under this arrangement, 154 seats will be available for government service doctors.
In contrast, nine non-clinical departments will have a 30% in-service quota, accounting for 118 seats. Altogether, 272 PG seats have been earmarked for in-service doctors for the academic year 2025–26.
In the previous academic year (2024–25), 312 service doctors had applied for PG admissions under the quota. There are currently 2,288 government doctors serving at 1,144 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across Andhra Pradesh.
The in-service quota is applicable to MBBS graduates who have worked in the government sector — particularly PHCs — for a minimum of two years before applying for PG courses. Many MBBS graduates opt for government service to benefit from this reservation.
It may be recalled that last year, the State witnessed widespread protests by PHC doctors after the government reduced the in-service quota. The agitation, which lasted nearly a month, had drawn strong reactions from the medical fraternity.
On Monday, Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the decision was taken after a detailed assessment of the projected demand for medical specialists by 2028–29, as well as the aspirations of in-service doctors.
Published – August 04, 2025 09:42 pm IST