THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Government doctors in the state are set to go on strike to protest against the non-implementation of salary revision. Doctors' organizations have decided to boycott duty for three hours on Friday morning. There will be a 12-hour hunger strike on February 5. The doctors also announced that they would boycott duty from February 9 and start an indefinite strike.

The salary arrears of medical college doctors in the state since 2016 have not been paid yet. The government had yesterday announced pay revisions and arrears for other government employees. However, the organizations allege that the government continues to grossly neglect the government medical college doctors who are the frontline warriors against Covid.

The organizations say the government has not even announced when they will pay the arrears with the allowance revision. The doctors are of the view that if the demands of the doctors are not accepted yet, they will take drastic action.

Patient care and teaching did not stop during the hunger strike on February 5. During the indicative strike time, the doctors won't do OP treatment, non-emergency surgeries and teaching. But Covid treatment, emergency services, emergency surgeries, ICU, labor room, emergency department, and ward services have been exempted from the strike.