Doctors at government medical colleges across Kerala have launched an indefinite strike, starting on February 16, 2026, severely impacting outpatient services (OP) and academic activities in the state’s medical institutions. The protest comes after months of unresolved demands over pending salary revision arrears and other systemic issues, prompting the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) to escalate its agitation.
According to the association, doctors were excluded from recent salary revision benefits given to other government employees, leaving them with unpaid arrears for years. This exclusion, they say, has created growing discontent among medical faculty, especially in newly established medical colleges where basic infrastructure and staffing remain inadequate.
As part of the strike, outpatient consultations and teaching duties at government medical colleges have been indefinitely suspended, while essential emergency services such as casualty, labour room, intensive care units (ICU), inpatient treatment, emergency surgeries and post-mortem work are being maintained to ensure critical patient care continues.
The protest is not new — doctors have been raising their demands since mid-2025, including the creation of sufficient permanent doctor positions, correction of pay anomalies in entry-level cadres, pension ceiling resolution, and improvements to medical college facilities. Efforts to resolve the issues through meetings with health and finance officials did not yield meaningful progress, leading to the current escalation.
In addition to the OP and academic boycott, the KGMCTA has organised relay hunger strikes and sit-in demonstrations to highlight their grievances. A candlelight protest held recently drew participation from doctors, students and patient advocates, underscoring widespread support for the cause.
The association has warned that if the government fails to act promptly, the strike could extend to non-emergency surgeries and university examination duties, potentially disrupting both healthcare delivery and medical education across the state.
In the meantime, patients and families seeking routine consultations are being advised to defer non-urgent visits or use alternative healthcare facilities where available, as hospitals struggle to manage workloads amid the ongoing protest.
News as reported
