Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial administration has approved a 15 percent rise in the monthly stipends of trainee doctors who continued to work in government hospitals while many of their peers participated in a recent strike. The decision, announced on 5 October 2026, will be applied to all on‑duty postgraduate trainees across the province’s teaching institutions.
The increase follows a directive from the Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI), which has asked every medical teaching hospital to forward an updated roster of doctors who remained on duty during the industrial action. Health officials said the lists will enable the finance department to release the additional funds within the current fiscal quarter, ensuring the bonus is reflected in the next payroll cycle.
The strike, which began on 30 September, saw a large segment of resident doctors walk out to demand better working conditions, clearer promotion criteria and higher salaries. While the protesting doctors continued to receive their full contractual pay, those who stayed on duty were shouldering a heavier patient load without any extra compensation, prompting criticism from senior physicians and patient‑rights groups. The provincial government’s move is being presented as a way to acknowledge the extra effort of the non‑striking cohort and to discourage future walkouts that could jeopardise patient care.
By boosting stipends for on‑duty trainees, the KPK government hopes to reinforce a culture of commitment among medical residents and to maintain continuity of services in its public hospitals. Health‑sector analysts note that the gesture could set a precedent for other provinces, where similar disputes over remuneration and working conditions have periodically disrupted health delivery. If the policy proves effective, it may become a reference point in negotiations between medical associations and provincial authorities nationwide.
Provincial health minister Dr Shahid Khan reiterated that the additional payment is “a token of appreciation for those who kept our hospitals functioning under pressure” and emphasized that the government will continue to explore broader reforms to address the underlying grievances that sparked the strike. The stipend hike, while modest, is expected to benefit roughly 1,200 postgraduate trainees in KPK, translating into a collective increase of about PKR 3 million per month for the province’s health budget.