Govt. medical college doctors to go on indefinite strike from Monday

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) will from Monday onwards go on an indefinite strike, which will include a long-term boycott of outpatient (OP) clinical services as well as all academic activities. From February 19, the doctors will boycott indefinitely non-emergency surgeries and other elective procedures also.

The KGMCTA said in a statement on Sunday that even though it has been protesting since July 1, the State government failed to fulfil any of the promises made on various demands raised over the years. The demands raised include an end to the postponement of salary revision arrears of medical college doctors despite the full payment of salary revision arrears to State government employees, rectification of the irregularities in the salary revision order, revision of the pension ceiling at Central rates, creation of sufficient posts in medical colleges, and payment of DA arrears.

After previous strike calls, the association had held meetings with Health Minister Veena George, after which the salary shortfall in the entry levels was resolved partially. However, no action has been taken regarding the payment of salary revision arrears, which is applicable to the vast majority of doctors, said the statement.

From February 26, the faculty will boycott university examination duties and related responsibilities.

The KGMCTA said they have exempted casualty (emergency services), labour room, ICUs, inpatient service and postmortem examinations from the strike. It said that the strike was necessary to safeguard the standard of medical education, to ensure the continued sustenance of government medical colleges, and to protect health care rights of ordinary patients.