Kerala doctors defer indefinite strike for a week after Govt assurances

Thiruvananthapuram: The indefinite boycott of academic activities in all government medical colleges across the state, announced by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) from January 13, has been postponed by a week after assurances from the Health and Finance Ministers.

The doctors decided to defer the strike after the ministers, in a meeting on Monday, assured them that all their demands would be considered. The government sought some time to implement the demands. To see whether the assurances are honoured, the doctors have decided to wait and will begin the strike from January 19 if their concerns are not addressed.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the KGMCTA announced an indefinite boycott of teaching from January 13, protesting against the government's failure to fulfil their long-standing demands. In addition, all non-emergency medical services were also supposed to be boycotted starting January 13, and a dharna will also be conducted outside the Secretariat on January 19, 2026.

Also read- Kerala Medical College doctors to begin indefinite teaching boycott from January 13

KGMCTA has been on protest since July 1, 2025 alleging failure of the government authorities to honour the assurances given over the years on various long-pending demands including rectification of anomalies in the pay revision order, disbursement of salary and Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears, avoidance of temporary and mass transfers, and creation of adequate faculty posts, sufficient facilities for faculty and patients.

Speaking to The Hindu, a KGMCTA spokesperson said, "The government has sought some time for implementing the demands we raised. If by January 19, the Government does not issue orders regarding our demands, the strike will continue as planned."

KGMCTA had said, "We had waited patiently for months together for the government to resolve several pressing issues regarding the pay revision anomalies of medical college doctors and the acute shortage of human resources in medical college hospitals, and we were being forced to go on an indefinite strike. The State’s public health system is facing an unprecedented crisis with the government medical colleges on the verge of a collapse, because of the short-sighted policies, unscientific planning and administrative apathy of the government.'

They pointed out that although medical colleges have been established in all districts, many of these institutions were not equipped to provide even basic secondary-level services.

"The newly established medical colleges in Kasaragod, Wayanad, and Idukki have the bare minimum faculty prescribed by the National Medical Commission for teaching requirements alone and not to cater to the demands of the increasing patient load," they added.

Also read- Kerala Medical College Doctors to halt OPD services on November 29 amid protest