Thiruvananthapuram: Healthcare services across Kerala are set to face disruption as doctors in government medical colleges have launched an indefinite strike from today, boycotting Outpatient (OP) services and academic responsibilities. The agitation has been called by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA), which alleges that the state government has failed to fulfill key promises made to the medical fraternity.
While routine OP consultations and teaching activities will remain suspended, doctors have exempted essential and life-saving services from the protest. Emergency care, casualty, labour room services, ICU treatment, inpatient care, emergency surgeries, and postmortem examinations will continue uninterrupted. Protest demonstrations are being organized at medical colleges statewide, with a major dharna planned in front of the State Secretariat on February 19 at 10 am. From that day, non-emergency surgeries will also be halted indefinitely, and beginning February 26, doctors will boycott all examination-related duties—escalating pressure on the government as patients brace for extended inconvenience.
