Doctors under the KGMCTA went on an indefinite strike outside the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital OPD on Monday, triggering issues of non-payment of salary arrears, arrears of allowances and shortage of doctors. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Doctors from medical colleges across the state have intensified their agitation by launching an indefinite boycott of outpatient services and academic activities in all government medical colleges from Monday.
The agitation which started on July 1, 2025 and raised several demands, including immediate payment of long pending salary revision arrears, revision of non-scientist pension ceiling, creation of faculty posts commensurate with increasing patient load in medical colleges and improvement of basic infrastructure, seems to have gone nowhere even though several talks were held with the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers (TACGM).
In a statement, KGMCTA said that while the partial rectification of pay disparities at the entry level cadres has provided some relief, other major demands, particularly arrears of wage revision due since 2016, remain outstanding.
Patients queue up at the OPD counters of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Monday during an indefinite strike by doctors of government medical colleges in the state. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
KGMCTA pointed out that although the government had announced full salary revision arrears to other state government employees, the doctors from the medical college were completely excluded and that the doctors had no choice but to intensify their agitation.
The doctors have been on a non-cooperative strike and the faculty members have been on a relay hunger strike in the capital for the last 21 days.
On Monday, senior faculty members stayed completely out of the OP clinics, which were attended by postgraduates and house surgeons.
Doctors said essential medical services – emergency care, delivery rooms, emergency rooms, ICU, autopsy and emergency laboratory services – were exempted from the agitation.
As part of the agitation, protest marches and dharnas were held in all medical colleges.
The KGMCTA said that unless the government takes proactive steps to resolve the impasse, doctors will suspend all non-emergency surgeries and other elective procedures indefinitely from February 19. As of February 26, members are withdrawing from all examination-related duties.
Published – 16 Feb 2026 21:13 IST