Image for representation.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K.
House surgeons at Government Medical College, Palakkad, called off their strike after the college director assured them that their demands over shortages of medicines, medical equipment and infrastructure would be addressed.The house surgeons began boycotting work on September 1, alleging that even basic medicines were not available in the Emergency department and that X-ray and CT scan services were non-functional for months. Around 100 house surgeons took part in the protest.The director assured them that medicines required in the Emergency department would be supplied immediately and that the faulty X-ray machine would be repaired. The officials also said action was taken against employees responsible for the lapses.Lack of facilitiesThe doctors also raised concerns about the lack of facilities needed for medical students’ training. They said patients requiring urgent tests had to be referred to the Government District Hospital.The protest gained momentum after two doctors injured in a vehicle accident on the medical college campus had to be shifted to the District Hospital and later to a private hospital as the required treatment facilities were not available at the medical college.V.K. Sreekandan, MP of Palakkad, who is also chairperson of the Medical College Monitoring Committee, held talks with the protesters. The first round of talks failed as the doctors did not receive a clear assurance on improving the facilities. They later decided to end the protest after talks with the director.Allegations against MPMeanwhile, students accused Mr. Sreekandan of shouting at them and making inappropriate remarks during the talks. They alleged that when students complained that medical equipment, including stethoscopes, was not working, the MP asked how he could know whether the equipment was functioning.Students also alleged that Mr. Sreekandan said he was unaware that the X-ray facility was not functioning despite being chairperson of the monitoring committee.Mr. Sreekandan denied the allegations. He said the house surgeons’ accident on the campus occurred because of their recklessness and they used it to politically shift the focus. He said the agitators were Students’ Federation of India students, and they were attempting to turn the issue into a political one. Published - September 03, 2026 08:42 pm IST
