Outpatient (OP) services at government medical college hospitals across Kerala are expected to face significant disruption this Tuesday, October 28, 2025. This comes as the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) has declared a comprehensive boycott of these services. The association accuses the State government of repeatedly failing to address their long-standing demands, leaving them with no other option but to escalate their protest.
The KGMCTA’s protest began on July 1, centering on several critical issues. These include the urgent implementation of a revised pay scale, resolving existing discrepancies within the entry-level medical cadres, and crucially, ensuring the appointment of a sufficient number of doctors to meet the ever-increasing patient load. For months now, medical college doctors have been engaging in a phased, relay boycott of OP duties, hoping for a constructive response from the authorities.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the KGMCTA highlighted the government’s continued unresponsiveness. Despite a previous OP boycott on October 20, there has been no willingness from the administration to either resolve the issues or engage in meaningful discussions. The current protest schedule outlines further boycotts of OP duty by doctors on October 28, and subsequently on November 5, 13, 21, and 29. Adding to the disruption, medical students are also participating by boycotting their theory classes on these dates.
Patients should be aware that essential emergency services, including casualty departments, labour rooms, and intensive care units (ICUs), will remain fully operational without interruption during these protest days. The KGMCTA expressed regret for any inconvenience this action may cause to the public and urged individuals to avoid visiting medical colleges on the specified dates unless it is an absolute emergency.
The KGMCTA emphasized its resolve, stating that if the authorities continue to ignore their demands, the organization is prepared to launch an indefinite strike, further impacting healthcare services across the state.