Kerala proposes 30 percent hike in rural allowance amid doctor shortage

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Health Department has proposed a 30% increase in remote-rural allowance for doctors to encourage specialists to work at medical college hospitals in the state’s remote districts, including Idukki, Wayanad and Kasaragod. 

The proposal comes amid continuing shortages of staff at several government medical colleges, where inadequate faculty strength has affected specialised patient care as well as medical education.

Despite Kerala having established medical colleges across all districts, institutions in Kasaragod, Palakkad, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta and Idukki continue to face shortages of doctors and other healthcare personnel. The department believes an enhanced allowance could make postings in remote locations more attractive to specialists.

Under the proposal, Wayanad, Idukki and Kasaragod have been identified as remote and rural medical college locations. The government is also looking at measures to strengthen services and improve access to specialist treatment in these areas. 

The issue is particularly significant for newer medical colleges, some of which have been functioning largely with the facilities and workforce of upgraded general or taluk hospitals. Shortages of doctors, nurses, laboratory staff and other personnel have raised concerns over their ability to provide both adequate patient care and medical training. 

The Kerala Government Postgraduate Medical Teachers Association has also called for the creation of additional posts and the improvement of infrastructure rather than relying solely on financial incentives.  

The association has pointed out that medical colleges require adequate faculty, laboratory facilities and equipment to function effectively and meet the requirements of medical education.

According to The New Indian Express, “We don’t have enough professors or doctors. We need better labs and instruments,” Dr Ajith Prasad said, highlighting the staffing and infrastructure gaps faced by some institutions.

The proposed allowance hike is therefore being considered as one part of a broader effort to strengthen healthcare delivery and medical education in Kerala’s remote districts. 

“Better facilities and faculty do not just improve patient care. They are essential for providing better medical education. Government medical colleges in the state cannot be run with such inadequacies,” he said.