Monday’s meeting between representatives of the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) and Health Minister Veena George remained inconclusive.
In the absence of any concrete decision on the major and long-term demands of the KGMCTA from the Health Ministry, and in the absence of a favorable response from the Finance Department to any of the issues raised by the doctors, the association decided to continue the strike announced on 13
The general strike is likely to disrupt all patient care services, except emergency services, at medical teaching hospitals across the state.
KGMCTA representatives held talks with the Health Minister along with Additional Principal Secretary (Health) and Director of Medical Education and Joint Director of Medical Education.
The anomaly in the pay revision of the entry cadre of assistant professors was a major problem and until it remained unresolved, young doctors would not enter the medical education service. This has adversely affected the functioning of all medical colleges, KGMCTA pointed out.
They also pointed out that it was unfair that when all the four installments of salary revision arrears were given to all civil servants, the teaching hospital doctors who worked tirelessly to save hundreds of lives during the COVID-19 were denied salary revision arrears pending since 2016.
The doctors also pointed out that the order issued on November 10, which approved only 44 new posts (22 professors and 22 associate professors) for Kasaragod and Wayanad medical colleges, was grossly inadequate. No new positions of assistant professors have been created, which will seriously affect not only the education of doctors, but also the activities of patient care in all teaching medical hospitals.
Ms George could not give a ruling on any of the KGMCTA issues as the finance department had the final say on all matters.
Therefore, the KGMCTA requested that a meeting be called with the Chairman of the Finance Minister. However, no time-bound assurance of such a joint meeting was given.
The KGMCTA protested the Finance Ministry’s continued indifference to the legitimate demands of the doctors and said it would continue the strike.
Published – 11 Nov 2025 20:15 IST
