Thiruvananthapuram: The patient care activities including OPs in six government medical college hospitals will be adversely affected from 10 am to noon on Friday following a protest called by the Kerala Medical Joint Action Council against increasing the retirement age of doctors from 60 to 62. Barring emergency casualty services, labour room and ICU, all other facilities are likely to be affected. Kerala Medicos Association, Kerala House Surgeons' Association, Kerala Medical PG Association, PSC rank holders and junior doctors associations are taking part in the protest.
Council president Dr Rahul U. R. said at a time when over 2000 doctors are awaiting appointment to the post of assistant surgeons in the health department and 200 doctors under medical education directorate waiting for postings the decision would adversely affect their job prospects. He said in Kerala, 3,450 doctors step out medical colleges every year. Almost a similar number of Malayalee doctors come out annually from medical colleges outside the state. Moreover, about 2000 specialist doctors arrive after completing their higher studies and training. "It goes without saying that their future would be at stake," he said.
The JAC said MCI recognition for various PG departments was hanging in the balance following the lack of infrastructure facilities and the shortage of senior resident doctors. It said the medical colleges in Kerala were following a staffing pattern of 1961. During this period the number of patients has increased manifold with medical colleges currently bursting at the seams. Under these circumstances it is essential to raise the number of doctors at the level of lower faculty, it said. Dr Rahul said it was unfortunate that the government failed to take the junior doctors before making a decision which will have a significant impact on their career. He said the JAC demands include an immediate rollback of retirement age increase decision, the creation of posts commensurate with the increase in patient load, the appointment of doctors on a regular basis in both medical education and health service department and the abolition of the bond system.
