THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant move aimed at revamping the entire primary health care sector in the state, the LDF government’s proposed health policy has sought to turn assistant surgeons into family health doctors. This is part of the government's strategy to convert primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) into family health centres with facilities of evening OPs. At the moment, the PHCs and CHCs are working from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The idea is to ensure that people get quality treatment in their neighbourhood. Instead of going to speciality care centres for ailments which could be treated at the local level, the people will be able to avail of the services of family medicine doctors in PHCs and CHCs. At present, the health service department has over 1800 assistant surgeons who are mainly posted in PHCs, CHCs and in the casualty of taluk, district and general hospitals. Besides manning outpatient departments, the assistant surgeons are also entrusted with immunisation outreach programmes and administrative responsibilities.
Assistant surgeon is the entry level cadre in state health services. While the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) has welcomed the family medicine concept, it is in favour of having three-plus doctors in each PHC along with auxiliary staff. Besides, it has asked the policy makers to introduce post-graduation degree in family medicine. The KGMOA feels that more doctors’ strength would be required should PHCs andCHCs offer evening OP services.
They have also sought a mechanism to record the details of all the patients coming to PHCs through E-health system. The department is currently facing a shortage of nearly 900 doctors, including assistant surgeons, specialists and specialist (admn) cadre. The shortage of doctors is adversely affecting the day-to-day patient care activities in 1,250 odd hospitals under the health department of which more than 85 per cent are PHCs and CHCs. The existing doctors’ strength is based on the staff pattern which was finalised in 1966.
