By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) is planning to observe a ‘black day’ on Monday (September 22) and stage a protest outside the office of the Director of Medical Education as well as government medical colleges on Tuesday (September 23), claiming that the State government had failed to meet their various demands.
Association State president Rosanara Begum and general secretary C.S. Aravind pointed out in a press release on Sunday (September 21) that the severe shortage of faculty in government medical colleges and the issues with the wage revision were yet to be resolved.
Their major demands include the creation of necessary posts in government medical colleges in Kasaragod, Wayanad, Konni and Idukki in line with the National Medical Commission guidelines (NMC), the creation of new posts in all medical colleges to balance the doctor-patient ratio, and making basic infrastructure and equipment available there as per NMC guidelines.
The association also sought a solution to the salary issues of those in the entry-level cadre, necessary corrections in the wage revision and payment of wage arrears to medical college faculty, dearness allowance on par with the civil servants and judicial officers at the national level, as well as its arrears.
Association functionaries claimed that the government had ignored creating new posts and making fresh appointments while setting up new medical colleges. Senior faculty members are transferred from other medical colleges to fill the posts in these institutions. This adversely affects not just the medical education but treatment as well in all the medical colleges. The doctors working in these institutions were finding it difficult to handle the work pressure, the press release said.
The low salaries of those freshly appointed as Assistant Professors were discouraging young professionals from joining government service. Many young doctors already in service are quitting due to the same reason, the association alleged.
The KGMCTA is planning to strengthen its protests in the coming days without affecting the smooth functioning of the medical colleges. The association has threatened to boycott teaching and OP duties if its demands are not met.
