Pay commission: Doctors stage hunger strike

Thiruvananthapuram: Government doctors under the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association staged a hunger strike in front of the secretariat on Wednesday. The strike was organized in protest against the 10th pay commission order slashing the basic pay of doctors under government health service and for changes introduced in pay for assistant surgeon, civil surgeon etc.
Around 50 office bearers of KGOA conducted hunger strike at Secretariat. They also organized a cartoon exhibition.
KGOA state president Dr V Madhu, general secretary Dr Raoof, state treasurer Dr Jyothilal, among others spoke at the function.
Earlier, the doctors had conducted a dharna on September 6. KGOA press statement said that they will conduct a token strike again in September 27 if their demands are not met.
The KGOA has decided to intensify the non-co-operation strike that has been going on since September 6. The KGOA has already stopped attending official meetings, VIP duties, medical camps and training programmes. As part of intensifying the strike, government doctors have decided to stop functioning of speciality OP and sending of reports to higher officials. tnn