Kerala Medical College Teachers Boycott Outpatient Services Over Unresolved Issues

Thiruvananthapuram: Doctors at government medical colleges across Kerala staged a boycott of Outpatient (OP) services on Monday, escalating their protest over a number of persistent issues impacting the state's medical education and healthcare system.

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA), which represents the faculty, stated that the strike was called because repeated appeals to the government failed to produce any concrete action. Their core demands include the implementation of pay revision, the appointment of sufficient doctors to match the patient load, and an end to arbitrary transfers. While OP services are suspended, junior doctors and postgraduate doctors will continue their duties within the medical colleges.

The current action is the latest in a series of escalating protests. The KGMCTA had previously organised statewide candlelight protests and sit-ins at all medical colleges on 2nd October to highlight the growing frustration among staff. This was followed by a statewide sit-in on 10th October, which served as a warning of stronger action if the government did not respond.

Kerala has 12 government medical colleges offering MBBS programmes, providing a total of 1,755 MBBS seats. These institutions are vital to the state's medical education and public healthcare network.

A protesting doctor told IANS that they have been raising "long-standing issues, including unpaid salaries, pending dearness allowance arrears, discrepancies in entry-level cadre pay, and the failure to create new teaching posts in recently established medical colleges." They added that instead of increasing staff, the relocation of existing personnel has worsened shortages, detrimentally affecting both teaching and patient care.

KGMCTA officials noted that these challenges have also created obstacles for inducting young doctors into the system. The faculty had previously held a "black day" protest on 22nd September and a statewide sit-in on 23rd September. Despite assurances from the state cabinet, the association claims no tangible steps have been taken. The KGMCTA has warned that if the issues remain unresolved, they will launch a relay strike, highlighting the deepening unrest among medical college faculty demanding fair pay, proper staffing, and improved working conditions.