Patients in distress; Medical colleges face treatment crisis; only emergency surgeries from today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government's lax approach to the doctors' strike is bringing the functioning of medical colleges in Kerala to a standstill. The doctors will be boycotting non-urgent surgeries from today, in addition to the indefinite boycott of OP duties.

Thousands of patients who depend on government hospitals are in distress. With the suspension of teaching, medical students are also worried. The government has assigned PG students for treatment, including in OP.

The doctors took to the streets to demand 57 months of salary revision arrears. They are on a hunger strike in front of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. This situation was brought about by a strike launched six months ago by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA). Despite the regular payment of salary revision arrears to other government employees, including doctors in the health department, there is severe neglect towards medical college doctors.

400 crores needed to clear arrears

• The salary hike in the medical education department comes every 10 years after the UGC salary revision. The January 2016 revision was implemented in Kerala in October 2020.
• In addition to medical colleges, teachers in dental, nursing and pharmacy colleges should also be paid arrears.
• A total of 4200-4500 people are among these. Out of these, 3200 teachers are in medical colleges.

Slow progress in legal advice

The government had sought a legal opinion on the payment of arrears in the context of court cases. This was following a discussion with doctors on the 11th of this month. The file, which received legal advice in favour of the doctors, reached the Finance Department on the 13th, but was stuck in red tape.

Move for voluntary retirement

Professors are moving for voluntary retirement following neglect. In the past five years, 28 people from medical colleges have taken VRS. VRS can be taken after completing 20 years of service. There is also a High Court order that if the authority does not refuse permission before the three-month notice period expires, the retirement becomes effective automatically. If there is a mass VRS, it will completely destroy the health system of Kerala. If professors take VRS, they can join the private sector for three times their government salary.