House surgeons, students begin token strike at Kozhikode medical college hospital

KOZHIKODE: House surgeons and post graduate students have commenced a 24-hour token strike at Kozhikode medical college hospital (KMCH) on Tuesday protesting against the government decision to extend the service of government doctors. Emergency services such as casualty, Intensive Care unit and labour ward were exempted from the strike. The state-wide protest was carried out under the banner of Kerala Medicos Joint Action Council (KMJAC). Medical students too expressed solidarity and bunked classes on Tuesday. The house surgeons and PGs of government dental college also joined the protest.

“As many as 250 house surgeons and 600 PG doctors at Calicut Medical College (CMC) are taking part in the protest, in addition to the junior doctors at the dental college. If no positive response is received from the government, indefinite strike would be kick started,” said Dr Anand Krishnan, executive member of Kerala Medical Post graduate Association (KMPGA), which is part of KMJAC.

The state government has decided to extend the service of teachers at medical education department from 60 to 62 and that of the doctors at directorate of health services (DHS) from 56 to 60. According to KMJAC, around 3,500 students enter medical profession after completing MBBS each year in Kerala alone and equal number of doctors who complete the course in other states and foreign countries.

“Around 1900 doctors are waiting for employment as Assistant Surgeon under the DHS. Hundreds of doctors are included in the PSC rank list under the medical education department. The hike in the pension age will hamper the job prospects of these junior doctors badly,” said a press release of KMJAC. CMC Principal Dr V.R Rajendran said the strike had not affected the patient care.