Kochi: The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association has registered a strong protest against the state government’s decision to launch Family Health Centres at Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres without ensuring basic facilities and sufficient staff.
Inauguration of the first Family Health Centre at Chemmaruthy PHC in Thiruvan-anthapuram district is scheduled on August 17.
As per the decision at a recent meeting of the KGMOA state committee, it urged the government not to announce Family Health Centres in PHCs without appointing enough doctors and paramedical staff.
“The PHCs have only two or three doctors while the minimum number required for Family Health Centre is five. Since there is no replacement for doctors who are assigned to other duties like meetings and field visits, there will be only one doctor at the centre. In such situations, how the additional services like Family Health Centre can be provided?” said Dr V. Madhu, state president of KGMOA.
“Before announcing such new services, the state government should ensure the basic facilities and enough number of staff. Though PSC has published recruitment list of 2000 new doctors, they have not been given placement, and temporary doctors are being appointed. The contract appointments will badly affect the smooth functioning of hospitals and healthcare centres.”
According to KGMOA instead of making announcements on new services, the government should appoint more doctors in PHCs and CHCs. Since the rate of communicable diseases in the state is on a rapid increase, PHCs and CHCs should be equipped with more doctors, paramedical staff and other resources, said KGMOA representatives.
