Work was affected in hospitals -- both private and state run -- in Kerala on 31st July following a nationwide call for strike given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019.

Passed by the Lok Sabha on 29th July and awaiting clearance from the Rajya Sabha, the NMC Bill seeks to establish a new regulatory structure for medical services in India. Protesting against the Bill, the doctors in the private hospitals completely boycotted out-patient services, while those in state-run hospitals attended only to patients in the out-patient departments.

"The outpatient department in our hospital as well as in other private hospitals are closed, even though we are giving the desired medical attention to in-patients," said a senior doctor attached to a leading private hospital. 31st July being a public holiday in Kerala, private medical colleges remained closed, while doctors in state-run colleges turned up for work wearing black badges.