The PG resident doctors of the state executive committee of Kerala Medical Post Graduate Association (KMPGA) protested against the delay in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) PG counselling, and have decided to move on with their protest by boycotting all services including ICU, casualty and labour room, in medical college hospitals, except COVID duty from Friday. They further said that due to the pandemic and the reservation policies of the Centre, a whole year was lost and there was a shortage of around 1,000 PG resident doctors. Similar protests were being held on MCH campuses in Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode.

The striking doctors wanted the government to recruit Non-Academic Junior Residents (NAJR) who are qualified MBBS graduates to balance their workload and push the Centre to speed up the NEET-PG allotment. They also stressed the 4% annual salary hike of resident doctors. 

The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) held meetings with Finance Minister K N Balagopal and the health minister on Thursday and decided to continue their protest as the government could not offer an assurance to resolve the issues.

The Health Minister Veena George on Thursday on warning notes said that action would be taken against the striking doctors under the Epidemic Diseases Act, as the strike continued even after she promised them to take action to ease the duty burden of these doctors. The state committee which discussed the issues with the minister declared that the protest was being called off based on the minister’s assurances. The association also announced the dissolution of its state committee on Thursday.

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) requested the public to visit the medical colleges for treatment only in case of emergency till the strike ends.

As the services were being affected, the Medical college authorities have started expelling striking students from the college hostels. A resident doctor in Thiruvananthapuram medical college said that the principal had announced that an order based on the directions from the health minister’s office has been issued stating that only the residents on COVID and emergency duties would be spared.

Source: The New Indian Express