Govt. medical college doctors to go on indefinite strike from Feb. 16

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) will go on an indefinite strike, boycotting outpatient clinical services as well as all academic activities, from February 16.

The central executive committee of the KGMCTA, after reviewing the discussions held with the government regarding its various demands and the “partially favourable” steps taken so far by the government, decided on Tuesday that they would go ahead with their agitation as planned.

In a statement here, the KGMCTA said that many of its crucial demands continue to remain unaddressed.

On Wednesday, the faculty, students and PTA members in all government medical colleges across the State will hold a candlelight protest and solidarity meeting, asking authorities to safeguard the future of medical education and the sustainability of public health systems.

On February 19, doctors will march to the Secretariat and stage a dharna. From February 19, the doctors are planning to boycott indefinitely non-emergency surgeries and other elective procedures also.

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.