Health Dept's Decision of Transferring Doctors Ahead of NMC Inspection at Kerala Medical Colleges faces flak
Thiruvananthapuram: The move of the Kerala Health Department in transferring doctors to newly constituted Konni and Idukki medical colleges ahead of the National Medical Commission (NMC) inspection, has come under severe criticism as the doctors have alleged that this way the health department was opting for stop-gap arrangements instead of creating new posts.
Protesting against the transfer order, the doctors have pointed out that transferring faculty from existing colleges would negatively affect the functioning of several departments.
In fact, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the transfer order, the doctors under the umbrella of Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) have warned of initiating an agitation, reports TOI.
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the transfer order by the director of medical education has been issued for a total number of 39 doctors. Among them, 23 doctors have been transferred to Konni and 16 doctors have been redeployed at Idukki medical college.
The daily adds that some of these doctors have been transferred on the basis of working arrangement and they have been directed to report for duty with immediate effect.
Among these 23 doctors who have been transferred to Konni, 12 doctors hail from Thiruvananthapuram, 6 from Kottayam, 4 from Thrissur and one doctor is from Manjeri medical college.
On the other hand, six Thiruvananthapuram-based doctor, four hailing from Kozhikode, and three from Kottayam and Thrissur each have been asked to join the Idukki medical college.
However, the transfer order hasn't gone down well with the doctors and speaking to TOI regarding the matter, Dr Benoy S, the State president of KGMCTA said, "Instead of creating new posts, the department is transferring doctors from existing medical college hospitals which will create deep trouble in the functioning of several departments."
"It is a fact that in several medical college hospitals, including Thiruvananthapuram, surgeries are being postponed due to the shortage of doctors. This transfer has come during such a situation," he further mentioned.
Dr Nirmal Bhaskar, state secretary of KGMCTA said, "It is an eyewash before the national medical council. For the headcount to parade doctors, we are being transferred like this. This is purely an unethical practice being done by the health department."
Demanding that the Health Department withdraws the transfer order immediately, the association has warned of initiating an agitation is the Department is not ready to do so.
Medical Dialogues had recently reported that the resident doctors of Kerala had protested against the pilgrimage duty assigned to them and responding to the protests, the Government had revoked its order.
Also Read: Kerala Govt Revokes Order Assigning Pilgrimage Duty to Resident Doctors after Protest
