Students of the Government Medical College, Manjeri, are on an indefinite strike demanding better facilities and appointment of teaching staff in clinical departments.
The agitation, which began two days ago, worsened on Thursday with a couple of students who were on hunger strike being forcibly shifted to the hospital.
‘No classes in surgery’
Pointing out the pathetic state of affairs at the medical college, the striking students said that they had only three faculty members in the Surgery Department, which required 20 staff members. The final-year students who joined the college in the first batch when it opened five years ago are going to take their exams getting virtually no classes or practical tests in surgery.
The faculty members have to attend the outpatient (OP) consultation and undertake surgery of patients. The doctors admitted that they hardly got any time for classes. The final-year students are the worst affected among the striking students. The college student union, headed by Students Federation of India (SFI), is said to be passive towards the strike. The students are worried about the annual inspection of the college by the Medical Council of India (MCI).
Stopgap arrangements
Their degrees will be in trouble if the MCI finds faults with the college and withdraws the recognition. It has been widely alleged that the college authorities were bringing faculty members and case sheets from other medical colleges only to convince MCI examiners. “As long as this cheating continues, the woes in the medical studies sector will persist,” said a senior faculty member seeking anonymity.
The striking students said that they wanted a permanent solution.
“What we need is not a stopgap arrangement like the way they do when the MCI members come for inspection. Let the government appoint permanent faculty,” they said.
The striking students demanded an assurance from the government to fill the vacancies in other departments within a month. Among the other demands raised by the medicos are an assurance on hostel facilities and house surgeons’ quarters; improving the facilities in OP, Casualty and wards; making the emergency operation theatre more efficient; setting up of more classrooms for clinical classes; and appointment of a Principal.
