KGMCTA defers strike for a week following Kerala government assurances

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) has decided to temporarily suspend its ongoing boycott of outpatient (OP) clinics and academic activities for a week following talks with the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) here on Wednesday.

The KGMCTA said in a statement issued here that it had decided to hold off its agitation for a short while in view of the assurances it received from the government regarding the disbursal of pending pay revision arrears and steps to enhance the standard of care in medical colleges.

Medical college faculty has also decided to defer its relay hunger strike for a week. They will rejoin OP clinics and resume academic activities.

During the talks with the Additional Chief Secretary (Health), initiated on specific directions from Health Minister Veena George, the government agreed to disburse the pay revision arrears of 18 months immediately. The arrears of the remaining 39 months will be disbursed in accordance with the legal advice, it was promised

The Additional Chief Secretary (Health) is believed to have given the assurance to doctors that as there are no legal hurdles as far as the payment of arrears for 18 months is concerned, the Health department would take up the responsibility of getting it disbursed without delay.

The KGMCTA said that the authorities had given an assurance earlier itself that steps would be taken for more post creation and quality enhancement in hospitals. After the doctors began their agitation, the government had created 44 posts of doctors in Kasaragod and Wayanad medical colleges.

The government had also corrected the pay revision anomalies in the entry cadre of medical education service, which the KGMCTA hoped would lure youngsters back to the service.

Following the talks on Wednesday, the central executive committee of the KGMCTA decided that even though the State is yet to issue a Government Order regarding pay revision disbursal, they would suspend their strike in order to ensure that the patients are not put to any more hardships.