Faculty shortage, pay anomalies: Kerala medical college teachers stage statewide protest

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) on Tuesday held protest marches across the state, highlighting the acute shortage of faculty and infrastructure in government medical colleges, along with long-pending pay anomalies.

Inaugurating the protest at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, KGMCTA president Dr Rosenara Beegam urged the government and health department to acknowledge the critical role of medical colleges in the state’s public healthcare system. She stressed the need for urgent and sustained interventions rather than short-term, token measures.

“Without proper action, Kerala’s healthcare and medical education sectors risk decline and public humiliation,” Dr Begum said, noting that the commitment of medical college staff has been a matter of pride for the country.

While welcoming the establishment of new medical colleges, Dr Aravind C S, State General Secretary of KGMCTA, criticised the government for opening new institutions without addressing basic infrastructure gaps in existing colleges and without creating faculty positions based on patient load. He made these remarks during a dharna in front of the Medical Education Director’s office in Thiruvananthapuram.

The association also highlighted the challenges faced by newly recruited assistant professors, whose salary shortfalls discourage young doctors from joining the sector and have prompted several existing faculty members to resign. Salary revision implemented after over four years contains discrepancies, and arrears for four years and nine months remain unpaid.