Thiruvananthapuram: Doctors skipping duty after reporting at hospitals will now have little room to go unnoticed, with the state govt directing hospitals to prominently display the doctors’ names and duty schedules. This will help patients know exactly when the doctors are expected.Health minister K Muraleedharan has directed the health department to display the names of doctors, their outpatient (OP) days and timings at all govt healthcare institutions. Patients and the public will be able to report instances of doctors being absent during scheduled hours to the authorities concerned. Action will follow against those found violating duty norms.The directive was issued amid complaints that doctors have been unavailable during OP hours at several govt hospitals, especially at the grassroots level, prolonging patients’ wait for consultations.The system will be implemented at all govt healthcare institutions, from primary health centres to taluk headquarters hospitals. The minister has instructed the health department principal secretary to take urgent steps to implement the new arrangement and take necessary action when violations are reported.“Ensuring timely treatment for patients is govt’s responsibility,” said Muraleedharan, adding that the measures were being introduced in view of complaints and lapses reported in the functioning of govt healthcare institutions.Hospitals will have to prominently display details, including the number of sanctioned doctor posts, existing vacancies, individual doctors’ OP timings and consultation schedules. The information will have to be updated periodically whenever there are changes.The initiative is intended to make the functioning of govt healthcare institutions more transparent and accountable, while informing patients of doctors’ availability.As part of the grievance redressal, hospitals have been directed to display the contact details of the deputy district medical officer (vigilance) concerned. This will allow patients and the public to complain about doctor shortages or failure to report for duty on time directly to the appropriate authorities.
