Kerala Govt doctors begin indefinite OPD boycott over pending demands
Thiruvananthapuram: Doctors under the Kerala Govt Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) have escalated their ongoing protest by launching an indefinite boycott of outpatient (OP) services and academic duties in all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) across the state from Monday.
The protest, which started on July 1, 2025, revolves around long-pending service-related demands. These demands include immediate disbursal of pay revision arrears pending since 2016, revision of the unscientific pension ceiling, creation of faculty posts in proportion to the rising patient load in medical colleges, and strengthening of basic infrastructure.
Despite several rounds of talks between the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) and the State government, no concrete resolution has been reached.
According to a report by The Hindu, KGMCTA stated that while partial correction of pay disparities at the entry-level cadre has brought limited relief, the core issues remain unresolved. In particular, the pay revision arrears due from 2016 have not been addressed. The association pointed out that although the government announced full pay revision arrears for other State government employees, medical college doctors were excluded from this benefit.
Doctors’ representatives have said that this exclusion left them with no choice but to intensify their agitation. Faculty members have already been on a non-cooperation strike, and for the past 22 days, they have been conducting a relay hunger strike in the State capital.
On Monday, senior faculty members stayed away entirely from OP clinics. Postgraduate trainees and house surgeons managed outpatient services. This shift in responsibility has placed additional pressure on junior doctors, particularly in high-volume government teaching hospitals.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) organised a candlelight demonstration as part of its effort to draw the government’s attention to its long-pending demands. The association has been continuing its strike since July 1, 2025, seeking the release of pending salary dues along with several other unresolved issues.
But even during the protest, the doctors have clarified that essential medical services are not part of the boycott. Emergency care, labour rooms, emergency surgeries, intensive care units, post-mortem examinations, and urgent laboratory services are continuing without disruption. However, the association has warned that if the government fails to take proactive steps to end the stalemate, non-emergency surgeries and other elective procedures will be suspended indefinitely from February 19. Further, from February 26 onwards, members will withdraw from all examination-related duties.
