A group of government doctors in Kerala has announced that they will take out a march to the DME office on Monday. They allege that authorities are trying to suppress their ongoing indefinite agitation.
The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) said it has decided to intensify the strike. The association alleged that the state government has shown continued apathy in addressing issues related to service conditions and pay anomalies of medical college faculty.
A protest march will be organised to the office of the Director of Medical Education (DME) on Monday. The protest is against what the association stated as attempts to suppress the agitation instead of taking steps to resolve the issue, according to a statement issued by KGMCTA state president Dr Rosnara Begum.
The association alleged that despite being fully aware of the challenges faced by medical college teachers, the DME has been putting pressure on principals, heads of departments and doctors. According to the association, this is being done to curb the strike rather than to find a solution.
As part of the intensified protest, medical college doctors have decided to give up additional administrative responsibilities. These are duties taken up apart from teaching and patient care. The association also said that doctors would submit mass resignations from such positions.
A college-wise list of additional posts to be relinquished — including hostel wardens, nodal officers and academic coordinators — will be submitted to the DME on Monday, the statement added.
The KGMCTA said the hunger strike has now entered its 33rd day. The boycott of outpatient (OP) services and academic activities has entered its 12th day. The boycott of non-emergency surgeries has continued for eight days, the association said. It added that protest meetings were held in all government medical colleges across the state on Friday as part of the agitation.
The association also alleged that authorities backed out of talks that were earlier announced under the leadership of the finance minister to resolve the matter. It said that though legal advice was reportedly received on February 13, the finance department has not taken a final decision so far.
The association said the government had acknowledged that the demands raised by medical college doctors were justified. However, it has maintained that it is unable to address them at present, a stand the association said is not acceptable.
The ongoing strike has significantly affected OP and IP services, surgeries and academic activities in medical colleges. Patients and students are facing considerable challenges because of the disruption, the association said. In the absence of concrete measures from the government, the organisation said it has no option but to intensify the agitation further. The KGMCTA is an influential service organisation that represents doctors working in government medical colleges across Kerala.
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