Youth Congress Protests OP Ticket Charges At Kozhikode Medical College

Calicut, Kerala: Youth Congress workers staged a protest today against the imposition of fees for Out-Patient (OP) tickets at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. The demonstration, which included gheraoing the superintendent’s office, followed the hospital’s decision to introduce a Rs 10 charge for OP tickets, a measure implemented from Monday.

Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in the Malabar region, previously issued OP tickets free of cost. The decision to levy the fee was taken by the Hospital Development Committee during a meeting chaired by District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh. Hospital officials explained that the fee is intended to generate funds for the institution’s development and daily operations.

Reactions from patients have been mixed. While some recognise the financial challenges faced by public hospitals, others view the fee as an unnecessary burden, especially on economically vulnerable groups relying on the hospital’s services.

Youth Congress leaders, including district president R Shahin, vice president Rinesh Bal, and general secretaries Shibu, TK Sirajudeen, CV Adil Ali, Rabin Lal, and Rishikesh Ambalappadi, actively participated in the protest. Congress Medical College unit representatives, including president Praveen Kumar and members Salooj Raghavan and Shameer Mankav, were also present.