Kozhikode: Doctors at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital ended their days-long strike on Saturday morning after discussions with the District Collector and District Medical Officer (DMO). Outpatient services resumed the same day.

The strike, called by the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA), began on October 9 following an alleged murder attempt on Dr P T Vipin by the father of a deceased patient. While emergency services continued during the protest, all other departments were boycotted. “Only casualty services were functioning in the hospital. Now all the departments, including the Outpatient wing, have reopened,” said Dr Gopalakrishnan, the hospital superintendent.

The strike was withdrawn after authorities assured enhanced security and administrative measures. The District Collector promised 24-hour police security at the hospital until a permanent police aid post is set up. The DMO also assured the introduction of a triage system in the casualty wing, temporary appointments to fill staff shortages and steps to address other issues within two weeks.

Doctors had sought the appointment of additional staff across categories, implementation of Code Grey protocol and deployment of security personnel as per government guidelines. KGMOA further urged the state government to cover the medical expenses of Dr Vipin, who underwent plastic surgery at a private hospital in Kozhikode following the attack.

The assault had sparked widespread protests across the state’s medical fraternity, with government doctors staging demonstrations and boycotting outpatient services in solidarity. 

The accused, Sunup, is the father of nine-year-old Anaya, who died in August after contracting amoebic meningoencephalitis. The family has filed a police complaint alleging medical negligence by Thamarassery Taluk Hospital, where the child was first treated before being referred to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.