Bengaluru: The Karnataka
Govt Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) has announced that doctors and
healthcare personnel across all cadres will participate in a statewide
agitation starting March 11, 2026, to press for their long-pending demands.
As part of the protest,
outpatient services at government hospitals will be suspended from March 11
to March 15, while doctors and hospital staff will attend only
emergency cases and will wear black badges to mark their protest.Also Read:Kerala Medical College doctors’ hunger strike enters 30th day, patient services disruptedMeanwhile, Health
Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has cautioned that the government is exploring legal
measures against those who refrain from performing their duties during the
agitation.
Dr Ravindranath M Meti,
president of Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA), told The New Indian Express, “We have waited for more than two-and-a-half years. There
is no progress on promotions, cadre rules, or filling vacant senior posts. We
have no other option.” According to the
association, doctors will boycott outpatient department (OPD) services from March
11 to 15, while emergency care will continue. Moreover, there will be a
complete boycott of duties, including emergencies, from 16th March if
the government doesn’t take any action on the demands of the protesting doctors.
According to The Daily, Dr
Meti also stated that they have already gathered widespread support as “Around
65,000 to 80,000 staff, including National Health Mission (NHM) personnel, are
supporting this movement. Let the government take action against all of us,” he
said. He further added that many senior doctors failed to secure promotions by
the time of their retirement due to long-pending vacancies. While apologizing for the
disruption in healthcare that the patients have to go through, the doctors
remained firm that the government’s inaction should be held responsible for the inconveniences.
“We are not slaves; the government must take care of doctors as well as
patients,” he said.
Responding to the strike
call, Minister Gundu Rao has dealt the proposed boycott of service as a “very
serious matter” and confirmed that patient care should be prioritised, and strict action will be taken. He told TNIE that essential
healthcare services must not be disrupted, as it puts patients’ lives at risk.
He further added that strict action, even legal action, may be taken against
those doctors who boycott duties affecting the healthcare. Rao underlined that
medical care is an essential public service and said the state would take
necessary steps to safeguard patient interests, adding that contingency plans
are being assessed to ensure continuity of services.Also Read:Karnataka High Court Sets Aside Order Against RGUHS on MBBS Paper EvaluationThe minister also
challenged the rationale behind the protest, noting that certain demands—such
as seeking paid deputation for postgraduate education—could further strain the
already limited workforce while the government continues to shoulder salary expenses.
He pointed out that opportunities for in-service training are available within
government hospitals, reports The Daily.