Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is facing a fresh wave of medical strikes after the Health and Family Welfare Department issued an order extending outpatient (OP) consultation timings until 2.00 pm. The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has strongly condemned the move, describing it as "completely autocratic and anti-democratic”.

The new directive, issued as part of a restructuring of duties for medical officers across various cadres, extends the previous 8.00 am – 1.00 pm schedule by one hour. The KGMOA argues that this extension was "shrewdly" embedded within a broader responsibilities order rather than being issued as a transparent, standalone directive.

Medical fraternity's stand:

Burden on existing staff: Doctors contend that increasing working hours without creating new posts or strengthening human resources will lead to severe physical and emotional distress.

Compromised care: The association warned that the increased load, coupled with inadequate facilities, would inevitably degrade the quality of care provided to patients.

Protest threat: The KGMOA has demanded a cap on the number of patients each doctor examines to ensure a scientific doctor-patient ratio. If the government refuses to withdraw the order, the association has warned of immediate statewide demonstrations.

Broader unrest: This dispute follows recent strikes by medical college teachers (KGMCTA) over salary arrears and workload, indicating a deepening crisis within Kerala’s public healthcare sector.

The government maintains the reform is necessary to manage hospital overcrowding and improve efficiency, but medical bodies insist that increasing the doctor count, not just the clock, is the only sustainable solution.