Kerala Medical College issues eviction order, striking doctors to escalate protest, boycott emergency services
Kozhikode: Taking action against the protesting PG medical students who are on strike seeking immediate commencement of the NEET PG Counselling, the principal of the Government Medical College, Kozhikode has ordered their eviction.
Not only GMC Kozhikode but similar orders have also been issued in four other Government medical colleges as well, informed Dr Ajithra, State President of Kerala Medical Post Graduate Association (KMPGA).
She further informed Medical Dialogues that although the college authorities are claiming that such orders have been issued on the basis of the directions given by higher authorities, Health Ministry has claimed that no such orders have been issued on their behalf.
"We are confused and we feel that an inquiry should be conducted regarding the matter," said Dr. Ajithra, while speaking to Medical Dialogues.
Also Read: NEET PG Counselling delay: Here is how doctors reacted Pan India
As per the latest media report by The Hindu, a directive issued by the Director of Medical Education and Health, Minister Veena George had mentioned, "Some PG students are continuing their strike in spite of the assurance given by the Health Minister. It is understood that [a] majority of students of other [medical] colleges have called off their strike and reported for duty."
KMPGA State President informed Medical Dialogues that even though all the medical colleges have allegedly received similar instructions, only five institutes have issued eviction order. "We had to spend the night outside," she added.
The Hindu adds that principal of the medical college claimed that the order of evacuation came from higher authorities and the order mentioned, "Under the above circumstances, it is hereby ordered to vacate the PG hostels with effect from 9.12.2021 without failure."
However, the students were determined not to vacate the hostel and the Students' Union took out a rally as well on the college campus in night in order to express their solidarity with the striking doctors.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the resident doctors across India had gone into an indefinite strike and stopped OPD and emergency services demanding immediate commencement of the NEET PG Counselling process.
Resident Doctors in Kerala also joined the strike and in a Press Release issued yesterday, the association stated, "Even after withdrawal from emergency services for past 13 hours and multiple attempts to obtain an opportunity to meet the Ministry of Health for open discussion about our needs, we are not yet given an opportunity for that. Hence KMPGA state committee is going forward with ongoing strike which includes withdrawal from emergency as well as non emergency services excluding covid duty."
Apart from the immediate commencement of the NEET PG Counselling, the doctors are demanding that more non-academic residents should be hired in order to deal with the acute shortage of manpower. Besides, the doctors have also been demanding the 4 percent hike in their stipends, which had been promised to them.
While commenting on the issue, Dr Ajithra said, "We are not withdrawing our agitation. In fact we have the plans to escalate it and we will boycott the emergency services for this reason. Until all our demands are met, we will continue our strike."
