Indefinite Boycott of OP and Academic Duties Across Government Medical Colleges
Thiruvananthapuram: Doctors affiliated with the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) have escalated their agitation by launching an indefinite boycott of outpatient (OP) services and academic responsibilities in all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) across Kerala from Monday.
The protest, which began on July 1, 2025, centres around several long-pending service-related demands. These include immediate disbursal of pay revision arrears pending since 2016, revision of what the association calls an “unscientific” pension ceiling, creation of additional faculty posts in proportion to rising patient load, and strengthening of basic medical infrastructure.
Despite multiple rounds of discussions between KGMCTA and the State government, no concrete resolution has been achieved. According to reports, while some entry-level pay disparities were partially corrected, the core issues — particularly the pending arrears — remain unresolved.
The association has pointed out that although the Kerala government announced full pay revision arrears for other State government employees, medical college doctors were excluded from the benefit. This exclusion, representatives say, has compelled them to intensify their protest.
Faculty members had already been participating in a non-cooperation strike, and for the past 22 days, they have conducted a relay hunger strike in the State capital. In addition, a candlelight demonstration was organised earlier to draw the government’s attention to their demands.
From Monday onward, senior faculty members stayed away from OP clinics entirely. Outpatient services have been managed by postgraduate trainees and house surgeons, significantly increasing the workload on junior doctors, especially in high-volume government teaching hospitals.
However, the association has clarified that essential medical services are not part of the boycott. Emergency care, labour rooms, emergency surgeries, intensive care units, post-mortem examinations, and urgent laboratory services are continuing without disruption to ensure patient safety.
KGMCTA has warned that if the government fails to take proactive steps to resolve the deadlock, non-emergency surgeries and elective procedures will be suspended indefinitely from February 19. Furthermore, from February 26 onwards, members plan to withdraw from all examination-related duties, potentially affecting academic and administrative functions across government medical colleges.
