Kerala Doctors Threaten Indefinite Strike Over Pay Arrears

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) announced on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, that they will intensify their ongoing protest regarding unpaid salary revision arrears.

If the government does not take timely action, the association plans to boycott outpatient and academic activities indefinitely starting February 16, 2026. Doctors feel overlooked, as other government employees have received their pay revision arrears while their own demands for necessary doctor positions, appointments, and removal of pension ceilings have been ignored for years.

Newly established government medical colleges in Kasaragod, Wayanad, Konni, and Idukki are reportedly facing significant shortages of basic infrastructure, including inadequate accommodation, laboratories, and departmental facilities. Essential patient treatment systems are also insufficient in many of these institutions.

Discussions with additional chief secretaries on February 2, 2026, had led to a one-week delay for legal advice on the arrears. Consequently, the outpatient boycott, which began on February 2, 2026, was withdrawn. However, the KGMCTA views the government's continued delay as unacceptable and demands prompt legal consultation and a just decision.

Consequently, the KGMCTA central executive committee meeting on Monday unanimously resolved to intensify the protest across all units. Sit-in protests, non-cooperation, and relay hunger strikes will continue at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, with essential services like casualty, labor room, ICU, inpatient treatment, and post-mortems excluded from these actions.

The association expresses regret for potential public inconvenience but emphasizes that this protest is crucial for the public health system and the future of medical education, citing the ongoing lack of infrastructure and doctors.