PG doctors launch indefinite stir at Kozhikode MCH over stipend delay

Kozhikode PG doctors strike over delayed stipend, affecting hospital services, with support from medical associations and students.

Services at the outpatient (OP) department and wards at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, were affected on Tuesday as the postgraduate medical students launched an indefinite strike boycotting their duties in protest against the delay in disbursal of their monthly stipend.

The strike call was given by the Calicut chapter of the Kerala Medical Post Graduates Association (KMPGA). The KMPGA functionaries said in a statement that they were left with no choice but to proceed with the strike as the authorities had failed to expedite the process to disburse the stipend despite repeated requests and discussions.

Intensive care units, casualty, labour room, emergency operation theatre, and other emergency services have been exempted from the strike. They, however, pointed out that the strike would be extended to emergency services in the coming days, if their demands were not met.

There are around 700 PG doctors at the Kozhikode medical college hospital, who are considered to be the backbone of the institution. Around 3,000 patients from different parts of North Kerala seek treatment every day at the hospital.

Normally, the stipend is released before the 10th of every month. However, the amount for February has not been released as yet. The striking doctors said that this was happening only at the Kozhikode medical college. Their counterparts in other medical colleges were not facing any such situation.

The State functionaries of the KMPGA had met Finance Minister K.N. Venugopal on March 15. Discussions were held with the authorities too. A token strike was observed in Kozhikode on March 16 to highlight their concerns. However, even after waiting for one more day, the issue could not be solved, they said. The students’ union at the medical college and the Kozhikode branch of the Indian Medical Association extended their support to the strike. A section of students boycotted their classes on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, doctors in the State Health department, under the aegis of the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association, too staged protest meetings in government hospitals as part of a State-wide agitation against the Director of Health Services.