Kerala government within six months plans to introduce 24-hour specialist services in district and general government hospitals.
K Muraleedharan said about 400 doctors from the PSC rank list were asked for advice memos, with 134 receiving them.
The government will also address the concerns raised by the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA).
Kannur (Kerala), Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Monday, August 31, said the government plans to introduce 24-hour specialist services in district and general government hospitals within six months and will recruit more doctors. He said the plan is decided; efforts are underway to strengthen government hospitals so patients can get treatment around-the-clock.
Speaking Deccan Chronicle in Kannur, K Muraleedharan said the plan for introducing 24-hour specialist services in district and general government hospitals. He said there will be no change in the government’s decision. Kerala government is also recruiting more doctors to solve staffing gaps in the hospitals.
“The government's goal is to bring government hospitals to high standards,” Muraleedharan said.
He also reassures the government’s commitment to round-the-clock care, saying, “24-hour night service is guaranteed in all general hospitals.”
The doctor’s recruitment process is begun by filling the vacant medical posts. Muraleedharan said that around 400 doctors from the Public Service Commission (PSC) rank list had been called for advice memos. Among them, only 134 doctors attended and received the memos.
Muraleedharan said that the selected doctors would start joining soon after the postgraduate examination held on Sunday.
“Other vacancies will also be filled. That said, it is not possible to run this system by filling every single vacancy at once. It will be done progressively,” Muraleedharan said, as reported in Deccan chronicle.
Replying to the concerns raised by the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) about 24-hour specialist services in hospitals. Doctors are allowed to meet him directly to discuss their issues, saying, “Anyone can come and meet the Health Minister directly.”
During his speech he also addressed the death of a child at a private hospital in Kannur, which is leading to an error in the administering of anesthesia. He said, “Even though it is a private hospital involved, it will never be allowed to act arbitrarily,” as reported in the Deccan chronicle.
The expansion of 24-hour specialist services in Kerala government hospitals will depend on the number of recruitment and resolution of concerns raised.
(Rh/TP/MSM)