House surgeons at Kannur Government Medical College staged a protest on Monday demanding the stipend that has been pending for the past four months. The college, which has 156 house surgeons in two batches, has been withholding stipends from approximately 54 house surgeons since July 2023, despite a remaining balance of ₹1,11,19,337 earmarked for stipends.
Dr. Sourabh M Sudheesh, President of the House Surgeons Association of Government Medical College, expressed dismay at the college’s stance, emphasizing that house surgeons are the lifeblood of the institution. Working grueling 36-hour shifts without food or sleep, these medical professionals play a crucial role in patient care.
Mr. Sudheesh highlighted the discriminatory practices, noting that while house surgeons from the 2017 batch receive stipends from government funds, their counterparts from the 2018 batch are denied until obtaining permission from the government or Directorate of Medical Education. Despite both batches facing the same legal circumstances in the Supreme Court regarding course fees, only one batch receives stipends, raising questions about the college’s transparency.
