House Surgeons Stage Protest Over Unpaid Stipends at Kannur Government Medical College
Kannur: House surgeons at Kannur Government Medical College took to the streets earlier this week, staging a protest demanding the release of long-pending stipends that have been withheld for the past four months. The protest, which drew attention from both the medical community and the public, highlighted the financial struggles faced by these medical professionals despite their crucial role in the healthcare system.
Dr. Sourabh M Sudheesh, the President of the House Surgeons Association of Government Medical College, led the protest, voicing the concerns of overworked and underpaid medical professionals. Dr. Sudheesh expressed deep dismay at the college's alleged apathy towards the financial well-being of its house surgeons, highlighting their indispensable role as the lifeblood of the institution.
House surgeons, responsible for shouldering significant responsibilities in patient care, work tirelessly in 36-hour shifts without adequate compensation. Dr. Sudheesh Told Medical Dialogues," We must take note of the sacrifices made by the medical professionals who often forego basic necessities such as food and sleep to fulfill their duties and contribute to the smooth functioning of the medical institution.
Mr. Sudheesh highlighted the discriminatory practices, noting that while house surgeons from the 2017 batch receive stipends from government funds, their counterparts from the 2018 batch are denied until they obtain permission from the government or the Directorate of Medical Education. Despite both batches facing the same legal circumstances in the Supreme Court regarding course fees, only one batch receives stipends, raising questions about the college’s transparency.
The President called attention to the discrepancy in funds, revealing that the college needs ₹42,12,000 for three months of stipends, while more than double that amount remains untouched in the government account. The delay in processing the Directorate of Medical Education proposal adds to the confusion, as the college fails to clarify the technical hurdles faced by the 2018 batch.
Mr. Sudheesh pointed out a KUHS order dated March 21, 2022, obliging all medical colleges to pay government medical college stipends, expressing surprise at the government institution’s violation of the directive. As the 2017 and 2018 batch course fee case remains pending in the Supreme Court, the unequal distribution of stipends persists, with the college offering no explanation for the apparent disparities. The association further stated that if their pending stipend is not paid by 29th November, HSA will go on an indefinite strike.
