Doctors in Kerala’s government medical colleges will launch a full-scale strike on November 13 . The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) announced the statewide protest from Thiruvananthapuram. The strike aims to compel the state’s Health Department to address several long-pending demands, including comprehensive salary revisions and the creation of new medical posts.
Strike Details and Scope
The KGMCTA confirmed that all departments within government medical colleges will participate in the protest. Only emergency hospital services will remain operational. This ensures critical patient care is not entirely halted during the industrial action. The decision affects medical services across all government medical colleges in Kerala, potentially disrupting outpatient consultations, elective surgeries, and routine medical procedures for thousands of patients.
Key Demands Driving the Protest
The association’s demands are multifaceted and have been unresolved for an extended period. These issues form the core reasons for the impending strike:
- Salary Revision: Doctors are pressing for an overhaul of their existing pay scales. KGMCTA states that current salaries do not align with their professional responsibilities, extensive expertise, or the prevailing economic conditions. A comprehensive revision seeks to ensure fair compensation for medical college faculty and staff, recognizing their crucial role in healthcare and education.
- Creation of New Posts: The KGMCTA highlights significant staff shortages within government medical colleges. The demand for new posts aims to alleviate the heavy workload on existing doctors, which can lead to burnout. Creating more positions would also enhance the quality of patient care by improving patient-doctor ratios and strengthen medical education by allowing for better student-teacher interaction.
- Payment of Salary Arrears: A substantial point of contention is the non-payment of salary arrears. These dues cover a specific period between 2016 and 2020 . Doctors are demanding immediate clearance of these accumulated payments, which represent their rightful earnings from past service. Settling these arrears is crucial for the financial stability of many medical professionals.
- Rectification of Pay Structure Irregularities: The association also seeks to correct discrepancies in the pay structure, specifically for entry-level doctors. Ensuring a fair and equitable salary system from the outset is crucial for attracting and retaining new medical professionals in government service. This measure would establish a clearer and more transparent career progression path within the state’s medical colleges.
Chronology of Unresolved Issues
This strike is not the first form of protest undertaken by the KGMCTA. The association previously organized an outpatient (OP) boycott. This action took place last month, drawing attention to the same unresolved grievances. The Health Department, however, has not taken adequate steps to address these concerns following the earlier protest. KGMCTA members stated that the continued inaction from the authorities has left them with no alternative but to escalate their agitation to a full strike on November 13.
Impact on Medical Services
The impending strike on November 13 is expected to have a significant impact on non-emergency medical services throughout Kerala’s government medical colleges. Patients seeking routine medical attention, specialist consultations, and scheduled procedures may face disruptions. The KGMCTA’s decision underscores the seriousness of their demands and their resolve to achieve a definitive resolution from the state government regarding their long-standing concerns.