Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association Strike Enters Critical Phase
Overview of the Ongoing Strike
Thiruvananthapuram: The hunger strike led by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) has now entered its 30th day. The boycott of outpatient services and academic responsibilities continues for the ninth consecutive day, significantly impacting the normal operations at government medical colleges.
Impact on Patient Attendance
A notable reduction in patient attendance has been observed at medical colleges, with postgraduate students currently managing outpatient services amidst the doctors’ ongoing protest. The KGMCTA’s agitation has intensified due to what the association refers to as ongoing injustices.
Disruption of Surgical Services
The protest is also affecting surgical operations, with non-emergency procedures being suspended for the sixth day. The ramifications on healthcare services and educational activities at medical colleges are becoming increasingly apparent, resulting in a sharp decline in both Outpatient (OP) and Inpatient (IP) services across these institutions.
Decline in Patient Numbers
The protest’s effects are reflected in the significant drop in patient numbers at the state’s leading medical institutions. At Kozhikode Medical College, daily outpatient attendance has fallen from 4,000 to 1,200. Similarly, Trivandrum Medical College has experienced a decrease from 4,500 to around 2,500, while Alappuzha Medical College’s attendance has plummeted from 4,000 to under 1,000. This decline is consistent across other medical colleges, where both outpatient visits and inpatient admissions have seen substantial reductions.
Temporary Care for Patients
As the Medical Faculty participates in the protest, only postgraduate students are currently providing outpatient services. Consequently, patients are receiving only temporary care, even when referred by senior doctors from other hospitals. This situation compels patients needing specialized treatment to seek help from private hospitals, which is concerning given that advanced treatments in the public sector are primarily available at Medical Colleges.
Exemptions for Critical Procedures
To safeguard patient safety in emergencies, cancer surgeries, trauma cases, and other urgent surgeries are exempt from the strike. At Trivandrum Medical College, where 80 to 100 non-emergency surgeries were previously performed daily, this number has now dwindled to just 5 to 8. However, casualty and essential services remain operational.
Association’s Statement on Salary Arrears
In a press release, the KGMCTA reiterated the serious injustice regarding salary arrears that have been pending since 2016. The association clarified that while authorities claim they are waiting for UGC grants, such grants do not apply to Medical College doctors. Historically, salary revisions for these doctors have been funded by the State Government, adapting UGC patterns to incorporate NMC standards. The association highlighted the discriminatory nature of the situation, noting that while Arts and Science college teachers received their arrears in April 2019, Medical College teachers were denied the same.
Upcoming Meeting and Future Actions
The Health Minister has informed the Association that the Honourable Finance Minister has scheduled an official-level meeting for tomorrow, which will involve the Secretaries of Health and Finance. The outcomes of this meeting are critical, as the Secretaries previously indicated that there are no legal or administrative obstacles to paying the arrears, and the file was forwarded to the Finance Minister. The Association will determine its future course of action based on the results of this meeting.
During a recent meeting with the Honourable Chief Minister, he assured the association’s representatives that he would discuss the situation with the Finance Minister.
Previously, Medical Dialogues reported that the KGMCTA plans to intensify its protest from February 16, focusing on unresolved demands, including correcting anomalies in the pay revision order. Despite some partial positive steps being acknowledged, the majority of the association’s requests remain unmet. This has led to the indefinite boycott of outpatient services and the suspension of academic activities.