The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala State Branch, has called on the Kerala government to immediately overhaul the salary structure for junior doctors, warning that the current pay scale is grossly inadequate and risks driving talented medical professionals out of the state. The demand, made by IMA Kerala State President M.N. Menon and State Secretary Roy R. Chandran, comes in the wake of a notification from Government Medical College, Thrissur, that offered MBBS-qualified Casualty Medical Officers (CMOs) a monthly salary of just ₹42,000.

The Core Demand

The IMA has called for a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹80,000 for junior doctors — nearly double what the Thrissur medical college notification offered. The association described the existing pay structure as fundamentally inconsistent with the professional responsibilities and personal sacrifices demanded of young doctors, who complete more than 5.5 years of rigorous medical education and compulsory training before entering service.

Junior doctors, the IMA noted, are routinely responsible for life-saving decisions in emergency departments and carry significant medico-legal accountability — yet are compensated far below many other government employees with considerably lower academic qualifications.

The Salary Disparity Highlighted

To illustrate the anomaly, the IMA pointed to a Security Officer post at a Kerala university, which requires only a B.Sc. qualification but carries a starting salary ranging from ₹55,200 to ₹1.15 lakh per month. The association was careful to clarify that the comparison was not meant to question the pay of other government employees, but to underscore the disproportionately low compensation offered to doctors entrusted with protecting human lives.

The Brain Drain Warning

The IMA cautioned that Kerala is already experiencing a steady outflow of young doctors to other states and abroad, drawn by better salaries and working conditions. Junior doctors, the association said, form the backbone of government hospitals — shouldering the bulk of patient care across casualty departments, intensive care units, medical and surgical wards, and labour rooms, often through prolonged shifts under intense physical and emotional pressure.

This comes amid a broader national concern over doctor retention in public health systems, particularly in states where private sector and overseas opportunities offer multiples of government pay. Kerala, despite its globally recognised public health outcomes, is reportedly not immune to this trend.

What the IMA Said

IMA Kerala State President M.N. Menon and State Secretary Roy R. Chandran stated that ensuring fair remuneration for junior doctors is not merely a matter of professional dignity — it is essential for safeguarding Kerala's healthcare infrastructure and retaining its best medical talent. They urged the government to immediately review the salary fixed for CMOs and all other junior doctor categories.

What Happens Next

The Kerala government has not yet formally responded to the IMA's demands. If left unaddressed, the association has warned the pay gap could accelerate attrition in public hospitals at a time when the state's healthcare system depends heavily on its junior medical workforce. Industry observers note that a government response is likely to be watched closely by medical associations in other states facing similar pay disputes.