The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) strongly protested after three doctors were appointed as food testing officers during Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's visit to Ernakulam on Sunday and Monday. The KGMOA leaders voiced their disapproval, stating that such duties are not within the purview of their profession and that food testing should be conducted by qualified professionals in the field.

Typically, during VIP visits, doctors are assigned to the medical team. However, in this instance, the health department issued a directive requiring the doctors to ensure the quality of food served to the Vice-President. The doctors were taken aback by this unusual order from the district medical office in Ernakulam.

The KGMOA argued that entrusting food testing to medical professionals who are not specialized in the area is inappropriate. They emphasized that doctors are trained to provide medical care and not to assess food quality. The association lodged a formal protest with the relevant authorities and affirmed that its members would not undertake such duties in the future.

One assistant surgeon from the family health center at Kodanadu in Ernakulam was assigned to CAFS, Nedumbassery, the airline catering company operating at the airport. A female medical officer from the district hospital was assigned to the Aluva guest house, while another medical officer was assigned to the Ernakulam guest house.

The Kerala doctors' association has a history of protesting issues that affect their profession. In May 2023, doctors in Kerala went on strike to protest the killing of a young female doctor and to demand better protection for healthcare workers. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMO) were among the organizations that called for the strike. In June 2025, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) launched a series of protest programs to demonstrate against the government's perceived indifference to long-standing issues faced by teachers in government medical colleges.

Fearing a backlash from the association, district medical authorities did not insist that the doctors report for duty.