Kerala Medical College Doctors' Strike Intensifies as Health Department Takes Action
The ongoing strike by medical college doctors in Kerala has escalated significantly, with the health department imposing dies non against the protesting physicians. This administrative measure, which effectively treats strike days as unpaid leave, marks a major development in the labor dispute that is now entering its critical fourth day.
Strike Cripples Medical College Operations Across the State
With the indefinite strike now in its fourth consecutive day, the functioning of medical colleges throughout Kerala has reached a severe crisis point. The protesting doctors have completely boycotted outpatient services since Thursday and have extended their protest to include the cessation of all non-emergency surgical procedures.
The health department has taken a firm stance by instructing medical college administrations to compile and submit comprehensive lists identifying all doctors participating in the strike action. This directive represents an escalation in the government's response to the ongoing labor unrest.
Impact on Medical Services and Patient Care
The strike has resulted in significant disruptions to healthcare services across Kerala's medical colleges:
- All scheduled non-emergency surgeries are being postponed indefinitely
- Outpatient departments remain completely non-functional
- Medical college operations face severe staffing shortages
Despite these widespread disruptions, the protesting doctors have maintained essential medical services. The following critical areas continue to operate normally:
- Casualty and emergency departments
- Labour rooms and maternity services
- Intensive Care Units (ICUs)
- Inpatient care facilities
- Other emergency medical treatments
- Postmortem examination services
Core Demands and Future Outlook
The medical college doctors are striking to demand two primary concessions from the state government:
- Immediate release of pending salary arrears
- Creation of new permanent positions within the medical college system
Representatives of the protesting doctors have issued a firm statement indicating that the strike will continue indefinitely until their demands are fully met by the state administration. The imposition of dies non by the health department suggests the government is preparing for a potentially prolonged confrontation with the striking medical professionals.
The situation remains fluid as both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with patient care hanging in the balance across Kerala's medical college network. The coming days will determine whether negotiations can resolve the impasse or if the healthcare crisis will deepen further.
