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Government Medical College in Manjeri go on indefinite hunger strike

The shortage of doctors has affected the functioning of the casualty department, they said.

Malappuram: Seeking an immediate cure for the ailing departments at the Government Medical College in Manjeri, the MBBS students here have embarked on an indefinite hunger strike.

They have demanded immediate action to fill vacancies of faculties at various departments especially in surgery where there are only three teaching faculties to fill the void of 19. The shortage of doctors has affected the functioning of the casualty department, they said.

The students said that they were forced to go on strike after many of petitions from them as well as parents to government and concerned authorities went in vain.

The students are still accommodated at the temporary hostels. The construction works of the hostel and faculties are yet to begin even after four years of its inception. After discussions with the striking students on Wednesday, the directorate of medical education has agreed to appoint three more faculties at the surgery department soon. However, the students have decided to continue with the strike.

“The strike would go on. We will decide the future course of action only after the joining of the new faculties assured by the DME,” said Vishakh R., a fourth-year student.

Though such a student strike demanding enough faculties and facilities is being organised for the first time here, the issues had been raised by many organisations and doctors. “Despite appointing enough number of faculties and senior residents at the college, the government’s remedy for the problem is bringing faculties from other medical colleges by transfer for a while. This is the practice here each time when the Medical Council of India (MCI) comes for inspection for the approval of admissions,” says a doctor.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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