Resident doctors, house surgeons and MBBS students at the five government medical colleges would launch an indefinite strike from Monday to seek withdrawal of three-year compulsory rural service, appointment of regular doctors from the PSC list, and an end to the bond system, Kerala Medical Joint Action Council leaders said here on Sunday.
Talking to mediapersons, Council State secretary K V Krishna Das, convener P.S. Jithesh and P. Shamnad said the striking medicos would boycott all services, including emergency services.
According to them, the medicos had employed peaceful methods t5o press their demands, including relay hunger strike, letter to Minister and a candle-lit march across the State during the past 81 days.
They had also called off the strike temporarily for a few days so that the new Minister could study the issue. “In spite of our peaceful
initiatives, the authorities had taken a highly negative attitude and asked for more time to study without giving any assurance. The medicos had expressed their concern much before the order on Compulsory Rural Service was issued. In spite of this, the authorities had decided to go ahead with the sceheme,” he saidadding that they were pushed into a strike by government's obstinate stand.
The medicos pointed out that compulsory rural service was introduced in 2004 for six months and later extended to one year. “The scheme was introduced at a time when there were not enough doctors to man the hospitals and medical colleges and the then situation was not attractive to young doctors. However, the situation is different now and yojng doctors are ready to serve at rural hospitals,” they said.
“We are not against rural service. But this should be as regular doctors. Even now the PSC has not absorbed completely the candidates from their list. In addition, there are about 4000 prospective
candidates who have not been able to appear for the PSC examination so far..
Kottayam government medical college hospital superintendent Tigy Thomas Jacob said steps had been taken in view of the strike.The number of theatre beds have been reduced, he said and added
that it would be difficult to function full-fledged in the absence of resident doctors and house surgeons. “Faculty members and senior PGs will be there to attend the regular duties, he said.
