The Kerala Government and the agitating Government doctors came closer to a showdown on Friday, with the Government suspending 24 doctors refusing to turn up for work and the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association announcing that some 200 Government doctors—including 77 senior doctors—have declared their readiness to quit the services forthwith.The doctors have been on a non-cooperation agitation for over a month now, seeking substantially better wages and implementation of a 2006 agreement greatly increasing their remuneration. Though the Government did relent to hike some of their allowances, it has been stridently refusing to consider the salary levels the doctors demand.
