Thiruvananthapuram: The functioning of Kerala’s Government Medical College Hospitals (MCH) was brought to a standstill on Monday as internal surgeons in the state join the turmoil currently being led by PG medical students.
Large crowds were seen in the outpatient sections of MCHs and many patients were discharged due to lack of medical staff.
Internal surgeons had announced they would boycott official work on Monday (December 13), except for COVID-19 treatment and emergency tasks. The Kerala Government’s Association of Postgraduate Medical Teachers is boycotting outpatient service from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Surgeries scheduled for Monday have been postponed.
Professors and doctors in medical schools have already expressed support for the student unrest. They warned the government that it would boycott duty, except for emergency and emergency services, if the demands of the PG’s medical students are not met.
The government will not budge
Meanwhile, the state government is taking a tough stance on the PG student agitation. The government believes that all reasonable demands made by PG students have been met and, therefore, it is no longer prepared to enter into further dialogue with the striking students.
Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George said the government had little to do with the PG student strike.
She pointed out that the issue of admission to the first year medical PG was now under consideration by the Supreme Court. She wondered why the agitation had not been withdrawn even after the government took steps to appoint 373 young doctors to the state.
More associations are giving their support
As the PG medical students’ strike enters its 13th day, most medical organizations have risen up to support the agitators.
While the government is taking action to appoint 373 young doctors, PG medical students believe the current shortage of doctors in MCHs cannot be addressed by appointing only a third of the number of doctors actually needed .
Meanwhile, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) has urged the state government to desist from any initiative to quell the unrest.
I would not be able for the doctors in medical schools to handle the current heavy workload, said KGMCTA President Dr S Binoy and Secretary Dr Nirmal Bhaskar.
The SFI unit at Government Nursing College opposed the move to give nursing students the job of GP doctors. The State Secretariat of the DYFI qualified the current strike by the doctors of the PG as unfair.
The permanent indefinite strike (nilpu samaram) launched by the Kerala Government Medical Association (KGMOA) before the Secretary of State has entered its 6th day. He protests against the alleged neglect of the interests of government doctors during the last salary review.
