Doctors in government medical college hospitals of Kerala are planning to boycott all the academic duties, VIP duties, pay ward admission, board meets and non-COVID meetings for an unspecified time as part of the standoff over their salary dues with the government. They had already boycotted out-patient services on Friday due to a three-hour token strike that was held by the doctors. The strike affected teaching duties and elective surgeries.

Kerala Government Postgraduate Medical Teachers Association (KGPMTA) and Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) have decided to strengthen the strike in the approaching days if all their demands are not met soon. The doctors are going to also start a relay hunger strike from 5th February and an indefinite strike from 9th February.

The doctors are at loggerheads with the government related to their salary fees from 2016 and also for not rectifying the salary irregularities in the entry cadre. They had started the strike following the government’s announcement of the pay revision and dues payment for other employees of the government lately.

Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac had proposed the fusion of arrears to the provident fund; however, the modification did not cause any cheerfulness to the doctors on strike.

State president of KGMCTA Binoy S, said that the minister is quiet about the amendment of allowances that forms an important part of the salary arrears. It is not acceptable to them as they are losing 60 per cent of the benefits because of this. The differences in the salary structure of the entry cadre have led to a shortfall of 11,000 to 18,000 for those doctors joined after 2016. State secretary of KGPMTA, Jeji G said that the government has also delayed the promotion by misreading the court orders and also the UGC guidelines. Also, he accused the state of not providing any incentive to promote research.

Source: The New Indian Express