Doctors’ strike: medical services may be partially hit in Ernakulam

Medical services will be partially hit at the Government Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam, on Thursday, with doctors taking part in the State-wide one-day strike called by Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA).

Doctors at medical college hospitals across the State will go on strike on Thursday (November 13) against the alleged indifference of the State government towards their demands, which include pending salary revisions, rectification of salary anomalies at entry-level cadres, creation of new faculty positions for new medical colleges, filling of vacancies, and better infrastructure and facilities for patients as well as faculty members. However, emergency services will be available, representatives of the association said.

While medical services are likely to be totally affected at other medical colleges in the State, services will only be partially hit in Ernakulam, said Dr. Indira C.K., president of KGMCTA Ernakulam chapter. “Here, medical services will only be partially affected as the faculty, which is part of the Co-operative Academy of Professional Education, will join duty. Further, emergency services will not be affected,” said Dr. Indira. The protest will be held in front of the administrative block of the hospital.

Emergency services such as casualty and emergency surgeries will be available without hindrance, association representatives said. For the past several weeks, doctors at the hospital have been on token strike. The non-cooperation strike began in October, with doctors going on strike once a week. The relay strike, which started on a Monday in October, has been held one day later each following week. The Ernakulam chapter of KGMCTA has 55 members.

The association said that if the government failed to meet its demands, doctors would continue the work-to-rule protest and intensify their agitation after the local body polls.