Keralam Health Minister Assures 24-hour Specialist Services in Govt Hospitals Within 6 Months

Kannur: Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Monday said the government would recruit more doctors and continue with its plan to introduce 24-hour specialist services in district and general hospitals within six months."The government's goal is to bring government hospitals to high standards. We are working to equip government hospitals so that patients get maximum treatment. Those efforts are currently underway," he said.

Muraleedharan said there was no change in the government's decision to provide round-the-clock specialist services in hospitals.

"There is no change to that. Because it is a declared decision of the government. Twenty-four-hour night service is guaranteed in all general hospitals," he said.

On filling vacancies of doctors, he said the process had already begun.

"Vacancies will be filled. The process to fill the vacancies has already begun. Just the other day, around 400 doctors from the PSC rank list were called for advice memos. Of them, 134 turned up and all of them were given the memos," he said.

He said the doctors would start joining soon following the PG examination held on Sunday.

"Other vacancies will also be filled. That said, it is not possible to run this system by filling every single vacancy at once. It will be done progressively. Filling vacancies step-by-step is indeed the government's policy," he said.

Responding to concerns raised by the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) about 24-hour specialist services in hospitals, Muraleedharan said doctors could approach him directly to discuss their issues.

"They expressed several concerns, and they shared their points with me. I told them only one thing: anyone can come and meet the Health Minister directly. There is no need to issue statements in the media. You can meet the minister directly regarding any matter," he said.

"Only if we move forward collaboratively by resolving all issues will the Health Department remain healthy," he said.

On the death of a child at a private hospital in Kannur allegedly due to an error in administering anaesthesia, Muraleedharan said necessary steps were being taken as part of the inquiry.

"We are taking steps regarding that. Even though it is a private hospital involved, it will never be allowed to act arbitrarily," he said.

He also claimed that around 60 per cent of investments in private hospitals now came from foreign sources and alleged that they were no longer under local control.

"So, those who go there should be careful. Their objective is to ruin government hospitals. We will address it accordingly," he said.

Responding to concerns raised by the child's family over the delay in action, Muraleedharan said the government would protect them and take action without favouritism. PTI TBA TBA ROH

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