THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Medicos and junior doctors in all government medical colleges in the state are set to intensify their campaign to seek withdrawal of government decision to raise the retirement age of doctors. After one-day token strike and demonstrations, the Medical Joint Act Committee has now decided to carry out an extended campaign on the medical college campuses including interaction with students on what they feel about the increase in retirement age. The idea is to prepare the students and junior doctors for a prolonged battle.
The MJAC believes that the indifferent attitude of the government towards their demands clearly indicates that the authorities concerned are not ready to resolve the issue. Under these circumstances, the doctors say they would be forced to take the agitation route. The doctors are planning signature campaigns on campuses to create awareness about the adverse impact of the decision on the job and promotion prospects. A detailed memorandum would also be submitted to the chief minister seeking his intervention.
Apart from the medicos and junior doctors, the teachers’ organisation is also in the forefront demanding the rollback of the decision. The promotion prospects of junior faculty would be seriously hampered. The increase in retirement age will also deprive the doctors of getting appointments at the entry stage. The KGMCTA says the government’s argument that the increase in retirement age was to remove shortage of professors in medical colleges, is totally wrong. The shortage is more in the level of associate professors and at the entry grade level.
