Thiruvananthapuram: With the members doctors of health services department resorting to non cooperation movement from Thursday, many health care activities have been affected in government hospitals across the state. The doctors have decided to boycott various activities to protest against government’s failure to rectify the anomalies in salary. As part of the non cooperation movement of the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) which is spearheading the agitation, the doctors are boycotting all evaluation meetings being held at the level of district medical officers.
These meetings are crucial for finalising strategy for disease prevention and control especially in the wake of dengue , chikungunya, malaria and typhoid being reported from various parts of the state. In the absence of doctors, the health authorities will find it difficult to conduct disease prevention camps, awareness programmes and mass contact activities. Only the immunisation camps have been exempted from the movement.
According to KGMOA, there is widespread resentment among 4800 doctors of health service department because of the rough deal given to them in the Pay Revision Panel recommendations. It said the government was adopting an indifferent attitude towards their demand. No meaningful negotiations have taken place yet to resolve the pending issues. The health authorities said the doctors' non cooperation movement would not affect the health care services in hospitals. All emergency requirements, OP duties, immunisation camps would continue to function in a normal way. However, pre-arranged camps might get affected by the stir.
