Junior doctors to continue strike, to boycott emergency services including casualty from today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The functioning of medical colleges in the state will be severely derailed from today. The protesting committee has decided to boycott the emergency services including casualty as the government has intensified action against the striking PG doctors in the state following the nationwide strike. The government had yesterday directed medical colleges and principals to expel protesting PG doctors from the college hostels. However, those leading the strike demanded that the health minister be ready to hold talks with them. They informed they would extend the strike for 24 hours if the government is ready to hold talks.

There are 1600 PG doctors in the state. The medical colleges will come to a standstill if they protest. The government had approved one of their main demands. The government was ready to recruit non-academic junior residents to medical colleges with a monthly salary of Rs 45,000. Despite verbal assurances from Minister Veena George, no action was taken and so they decided to boycott the emergency services. However, the government’s stand is that the strike after approving their demand is not acceptable. The appointment of non-academic junior residents was one of the main demands of the junior residents.