Strike affects medical colleges in Kerala

Kozhikode, Oct 6 : The functioning of five government medical colleges in Kerala was affected as students went on a one-day strike Monday.

The students are demanding a hike in their stipend and repeal of compulsory bond that requires them to work in the government service for a certain period.

Doctors - including house surgeons, postgraduate students and doctors serving in the colleges under the bond - joined the students and organised demonstrations in medical college campuses Monday morning.

State Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi is scheduled to hold talks with the students later Monday.

"Our future course of action will depend on the outcome of the talks," vice-president of Kerala Medical Post-Graduates Association Thiruvananthapuram chapter K.M. Sajin told IANS.

In Kerala, medical students constitute the majority of the real workforce in medical colleges, with vacancies of doctors remaining unfilled.