Kerala government medical college doctors on Monday temporarily withdrew their OP and academic boycotts following talks with the additional chief secretaries of health, family welfare and finance, held in the presence of the Director of Medical Education. The doctors had boycotted outpatient services as part of a phased protest, alleging continued neglect of their long-pending demands by the state government.

According to a statement issued by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA), an order to correct the entry cadre anomaly will be issued on Tuesday, incorporating the association's demands. Meanwhile, the government has sought one week to obtain a legal opinion due to ongoing legal hurdles related to the pay revision arrears.

The association said officials also assured that issues concerning the increase in promotion duration, pension ceiling and post creation would be addressed in a time-bound manner. Considering the government's positive approach, the KGMCTA central executive committee, which met at 9.30 pm, decided to temporarily withdraw the indefinite OP and academic boycotts, the association said.

However, the hunger strike, non-cooperation and work-to-rule protests will continue until further decisions are taken, the association added.

The KGMCTA has been protesting since July 1, 2025. It said assurances were given during meetings with Health Minister Veena George in November 2025 and with the Health and Finance Ministers in January 2026, following which the strike was deferred. However, a government order issued on January 18, 2026, offered only a nominal allowance without retrospective effect or continuity, which the association termed unacceptable.

The association also warned that the existing pay structure has made government service unattractive, leading to rising vacancies and reluctance among young doctors to join. It criticised the practice of rotating doctors to newly established medical colleges instead of creating permanent posts, saying this affected both medical education and specialised healthcare.