THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: House surgeons in five government medical colleges in the state went on a 24 hour strike affecting patient care services in casualty, OP and IP wings at these institutions.
About 850 house surgeons participated in the strike keeping away from casualty duties, outpatient wings, ward duties, labour rooms and other patient care services.
The striking house surgeons took out a march to Directorate of Medical Education where a protest demonstration was inaugurated by Kerala Government Medical Teachers Association (KGMCTA) secretary Dr Kavita. Similar demonstrations were held outside the principal’s office in other four medical colleges.
All Kerala House Surgeons Association office bearers said that the strike was mainly in support of their demand for increasing stipend from Rs 15,000 to Rs 23,000.
Though the government had agreed to grant a 10 per cent annual increment in 2010, the decision was never implemented. The last hike was effected in 2012 and since then not even a single paisa has been added to the stipend, they added.
“We have been taking up the stipend issue with the health minister and other authorities since last six months. Earlier this month we met the health minister and other officials who promised to implement our demand at the earliest. Even chief minister had assured that the matter would be decided in the last Cabinet. But nothing happened, forcing us to go on strike,” said Dr Abdul Sameer, state president in charge of the association.
The association has decided to go on an indefinite agitation from June 25. “Considering the increasing cases of fever and infectious diseases, we have decided to hold special camps and clinics for the people in all five medical colleges. This is to convey a message that we don’t want to put the poor patients in a difficult situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister V S Sivakumar warned the house surgeons of strict disciplinary action. “This is medically unethical agitation. They have gone on strike at a time when people are suffering from fever and infectious diseases. This is unacceptable,” he told reporters in Pampa.
