Thiruvananthapuram: Doctors working in government medical colleges across Kerala have announced an indefinite strike, accusing the state government of prolonged neglect, broken promises, and discriminatory treatment in settling long-pending pay revision arrears.
The protest, led by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA), will begin on January 22 with a boycott of teaching activities. The agitation will intensify with an outpatient department (OPD) boycott from February 2, and from February 9, non-emergency surgeries will also be disrupted.
The association alleged that while other government employees have received their full pay revision arrears, medical college doctors continue to be denied their rightful dues. “The government’s approach towards medical college doctors is unjust and deceptive,” the organisation said in a statement.
Doctors have been demanding the correction of anomalies in the pay revision, revision of the pension ceiling in line with central government norms, withdrawal of arbitrary temporary transfers, and the creation of new posts along with improved infrastructure. Despite repeated assurances from the authorities, none of these commitments have been fulfilled, prompting the decision to launch an open-ended strike.
The organisation had been protesting since July 2025, but the strike was temporarily postponed following talks involving the Health Minister and the Finance Minister. However, doctors say a government order issued on January 18, 2026, effectively rejected their core demands, leaving them with no option but to intensify their agitation.
Particular dissatisfaction has been expressed over the allowance granted to entry-level doctors to address pay disparities, as it lacks retrospective effect and does not carry forward to future pay revisions.
Highlighting their service during the COVID-19 and Nipah outbreaks, doctors said it was deeply unfair that those who risked their lives in the line of duty are now being denied even the arrears promised to them. Although a 2021 order had assured payment of arrears in four instalments, the subsequent government deferred the process. In 2025, while the first two instalments were credited to the provident fund accounts of other government employees, medical college doctors were excluded — a move the association has termed a serious injustice.
