Strike by Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association

Overview of the Protest

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) conducted a strike on November 13, 2025, which included a boycott of outpatient department services, elective surgeries, and medical student classes across all medical colleges. Only emergency, casualty, and labour room services remained operational during this period.

Reasons Behind the Strike

The KGMCTA announced that a complete strike would take place on November 13 until the state government provides formal orders or written assurances regarding their primary demands. This decision came after unproductive discussions with Health Minister Veena George. The association indicated that the strike had been scheduled a week in advance but yielded no results in negotiations.

Impact on Medical Services

According to a report from The New Indian Express, officials at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College stated that they minimized the strike’s impact through proactive measures. A senior professor noted that non-emergency surgeries were rescheduled in anticipation of the protest. The KGMCTA’s actions primarily affected outpatient services, non-emergency surgeries, and classes, while treatment for admitted patients, casualty services, labour rooms, ICUs, emergency surgeries, and postmortem procedures continued without interruption.

Key Demands of KGMCTA

The KGMCTA’s key demands include the establishment of additional posts and the filling of vacancies for assistant professors in various government medical colleges. They also seek to prevent transfers of teachers on a work arrangement basis due to staff shortages. Additionally, the association is requesting the payment of pending arrears following the 2020 pay revision and the correction of salary anomalies. KGMCTA has warned of an escalation in their protest if the government does not address these demands, as reported by news agency PTI.

Related Actions by Other Medical Associations

In a related development, the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has also decided to intensify their protests. Starting November 15, KGMOA will withdraw from all VIP and eSanjeevani duties. Since November 1, they have engaged in a non-cooperation protest, advocating for robust security systems in government hospitals and a safe, independent working environment for healthcare professionals, including doctors, as reported by TOI.