Kerala Won’t Backtrack on 24x7 Specialist Services, Says Health Minister

Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Sunday said the state government would go ahead with its decision to introduce round-the-clock specialist services at district and general hospitals, rejecting concerns raised by the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA).

Muraleedharan said there would be no change in the government’s decision and assured that the required doctors and other healthcare staff would be provided to implement the scheme. “The government will go ahead with the decisions announced. There will be no change in that. We will meet the requirements in this regard,” he told reporters.

The minister said around 140 doctors have already been appointed as part of efforts to strengthen staffing. He added that additional personnel would be provided wherever required to ensure the effective implementation of the 24x7 specialist service.

Muraleedharan also expressed displeasure over KGMOA raising concerns about the initiative through the media. He said the association had not officially conveyed its objections to the government and urged its representatives to meet him directly to discuss vacancies and other operational difficulties.

“There is no need to issue statements every day. They can meet me directly and explain what they need,” he said.

KGMOA had earlier welcomed the government’s plan to introduce 24x7 specialist services within six months, but stressed that new posts would be essential for its successful implementation. The doctors’ body warned that redeploying existing specialists could adversely affect Kerala’s three-tier public healthcare system.

According to KGMOA, nearly 800 doctor posts are vacant in the Health Department, including about 300 specialists, 476 general and 23 administrative positions.

The association also pointed out that several district and general hospitals have only three or four specialists in certain departments. It has urged the government to create new specialist posts and appoint postgraduate-qualified assistant surgeons to ensure adequate shift and stay-duty arrangements before implementing the scheme.