Thiruvananthapuram: Doctors at government medical colleges across Kerala boycotted outpatient (OP) services on Tuesday as part of an ongoing protest by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA). The organisation has been staging protests since July 1, citing long-pending demands that the government has yet to address. Only postgraduate students were available at the OP sections, while theory classes for students were also boycotted.

KGMCTA state president Dr Rosnara Begum led the state-level inauguration of the protest held in connection with the boycott at Kozhikode Medical College. The association also boycotted a meeting convened at the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) office to prepare the Machinery and Equipment Standardisation List.

However, emergency services such as casualty, labour room, and ICU were excluded from the strike. The association also announced that the OP boycott will continue on November 5, 13, 21, and 29. Emergency services will remain unaffected on these days as well.

KGMCTA said it was forced to extend the protest since petitions and discussions over the years had failed to yield results. “We regret the inconvenience caused to patients, but the government’s continued indifference has left us with no option,” an official statement read. The protest will include boycotting official meetings and withholding responses to official letters. The meeting to prepare the ‘Machinery and Equipment Standardisation List’ at the DME office will continue to be boycotted.

The association reiterated its key demands, including rectifying pay irregularities in the entry cadre Assistant Professor post and during promotions, and expediting PSC appointments to attract more doctors to medical colleges. It also called for the immediate release of pending salary revision arrears from 2016 and the granting of full DA arrears, similar to other government employees. Additionally, the organisation demanded an increase in the number of doctor posts in proportion to the growing patient load and treatment requirements, alongside improvements in basic infrastructure and safety measures for doctors in hospitals.