KGMOA, Kerala Govt agree on 24-hour specialist services at District, General Hospitals
Thiruvananthapuram: In a move aimed at strengthening round-the-clock specialist care at government hospitals, the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has agreed to cooperate with the state government’s plan to introduce 24-hour specialist services at district and general hospitals, subject to certain conditions.
Under the proposed arrangement, doctors will initially be assigned stay duty from 8 am to 8 pm, followed by an on-call system to ensure specialist services are available whenever required, reports The Daily.
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The decision was taken during discussions between KGMOA representatives and Health Minister K Muraleedharan. During the meeting, the minister assured the doctors that existing vacancies would be filled and promotions expedited. He also assured the association that the consent of specialist doctors would be obtained before they are redeployed from primary health centres.
As per Onmanorama, Muraleedharan had expressed displeasure after the KGMOA publicly opposed the government’s plan to provide 24-hour specialist services by redeploying doctors. The KGMOA raised its demands during subsequent discussions with the minister.
The scheme will initially be launched on a trial basis at Punalur Government Hospital and will be introduced at one hospital in each district during the initial phase.
Under the plan, the services of nine doctors, representing different specialities, will be ensured beyond regular outpatient department hours. Round-the-clock specialist services will initially focus on key departments, including general medicine, general surgery, gynaecology, orthopaedic surgery and ENT.
The government has also agreed to address concerns related to the redeployment of doctors from primary health centres. When such redeployment takes place, replacement doctors will be appointed on a contractual basis until permanent appointments are made.
The Health Department will also consider KGMOA’s demand for a special incentive for redeployed doctors, similar to the special pay currently provided to doctors in the specialist cadre.
The Health Department Director has been instructed to prepare a proposal for creating new posts at taluk hospitals and above. The minister also assured the association that additional medical officers would be deployed to strengthen casualty and intensive care units, while a triage system would be introduced.
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