The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has announced a statewide non-cooperation strike from November 1 to protest against the growing insecurity and repeated lapses in safety measures across government hospitals. During the protest, doctors will refrain from all non-patient care duties.

The decision follows the shocking incident at the Taluk Hospital, Thamarassery in Kozhikode, on October 8, where Dr Vipin P T was grievously injured after being attacked by a man identified as Sanup, the father of nine-year-old Ananya, who had died of amoebic meningoencephalitis. Dr Vipin sustained a skull fracture and is currently undergoing treatment. Police said Sanup, who had shown no remorse, appeared to have planned the attack, targeting the doctor at random out of anger over his daughter’s death.

In a statement, the KGMOA expressed deep concern over the worsening safety conditions in government hospitals. “The failure of authorities to ensure secure workplaces for healthcare professionals is deeply disappointing,” the association said.

Recalling the brutal killing of Dr Vandana Das — a house surgeon murdered by her patient at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital — the KGMOA noted that despite assurances made at a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister after the incident, most promised safety reforms remain unimplemented.

“So far, only two measures have materialised — the enactment of the Hospital Protection Act and the revision of guidelines for medical examination of persons in police custody,” the statement said. “However, key decisions such as assigning the State Industrial Security Force (SISF) to guard major hospitals, setting up police aid posts, and conducting half-yearly security audits have been ignored.”

The association also pointed out that while the “Code Grey” protocol was introduced to strengthen hospital security, it remains ineffective in many institutions due to poor implementation. It also alleged that several local bodies failed to allocate funds for installing CCTV cameras or appointing ex-servicemen as security personnel. Overcrowding, particularly in emergency wards, continues to escalate tensions and often leads to violence, the KGMOA added.

Calling for immediate, war-footing action, the association urged the government to implement the following measures:

Introduce triage systems in all casualty departments to prioritise patients based on the severity of their condition.

Ensure two Casualty Medical Officers (CMOs) are present during each shift in casualty units.

Hand over hospital security to the SISF and establish police aid posts in all hospitals with casualty facilities.

Allocate funds promptly for CCTV installation and the appointment of ex-servicemen as security guards.

Clearly define the doctor–patient ratio across all cadres.

The KGMOA also demanded that the government bear the full medical expenses of Dr Vipin.

If these demands are not met within a reasonable timeframe, the association warned that it will intensify its agitation. “The non-cooperation protest beginning on November 1 is only the first phase. Further, stronger modes of protest will follow if the government continues to ignore our legitimate demands,” it said.

Reiterating its stance, the KGMOA urged the government to take prompt and decisive action to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and create a secure, fearless environment in hospitals — a step it said is crucial to preserving Kerala’s public health system.