Kerala Govt Doctors To Observe ‘Black Day’ Tomorrow to Protest Certificate On Withdrawal Symptoms To Tipplers

Government doctors in Kerala will observe a black day on Wednesday (1 April) in protest against the State Government asking them to issue certificates to tipplers who exhibit withdrawal symptoms.

The tipplers have been deprived of liquor since 25 March as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government decided to shut all liquor outlets to combat the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) as part of the nation-wide lockdown.

At least seven persons have committed suicide since then, forcing the State Government to consider an alternative such as issuing a doctor certificate to help tipplers get liquor from the State Beverages Corporation.

The doctors, belonging to the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association, will wear black badges while on work.

Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi quoted association office-bearer Vijaykrishna as saying the directive asking doctors to issue a certificate that a person was suffering withdrawal symptoms when deprived of liquor affected their morale.

Doctors in Kerala have been pointing out that ethical issues are involved in giving such certificates. Medical experts say that persons with such symptoms can be treated scientifically, going by medical protocol.

The CPM-led Government has decided to issue special passes to the tipplers once they get to a doctor’s certificate to get liquor.

Liquor outlets will likely be shut until 14 April, when the lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ends. The State Government decided to shut the outlets following criticisms over long queues at the outlets, which raised fears of the facilitating the spread of the pandemic Covid-19.

Vijayan has termed Kerala’s liquor issue as a “peculiar problem”.

Kerala could face financial crunch if the outlets closure prolong. The State earns Rs 2,500 crore as taxes from liquor sales, while overall sales were about Rs 14,500 during 2018-19 fiscal.