Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt and Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) have reached a consensus on ensuring round-the-clock specialist services in district and general hospitals. Govt has assured the doctors’ organisation that vacancies in specialist posts will be filled and promotion procedures will be expedited.The decision was taken during a meeting between health minister K Muraleedharan and KGMOA representatives. The minister had earlier publicly expressed displeasure over the association’s opposition to the govt’s decision to introduce 24/7 specialist services in govt hospitals.KGMOA had maintained from the outset that existing vacancies in specialist posts should be filled and additional appointments made before implementing the scheme. The organisation had argued that deploying specialists from primary health centres and other institutions without strengthening the existing workforce would put additional pressure on doctors and affect services.Govt, however, maintained that an adequate number of doctors were already available within the health system and that specialists could be redeployed from primary health centres to district and general hospitals to ensure round-the-clock services.‘’We were informed that the govt is planning to provide specialty services from 8am to 8pm, and teleconsultation services from 8pm to 8am. It was assured that a minimum of nine specialist doctors in each specialty will be ensured in all hospitals where 24/7 specialty services are introduced,” said Dr Sunil P K, state president of KGMOA, after the discussion.Following the discussions, govt agreed to fill the vacancies and expedite promotions. It was also decided that the consent of specialist doctors would be sought before redeploying them from primary health centres. Govt assured that replacement doctors would be provided at the institutions from which specialists are transferred.Govt also agreed to consider KGMOA’s demand for providing a special allowance to specialists who are redeployed as part of the initiative.With the issue now resolved, the 24/7 specialist service programme is expected to be fully implemented at Punalur hospital shortly. The hospital will have specialist doctors available in orthopaedics, gynaecology, paediatrics, general medicine and general surgery from 8am to 8pm. From 8pm onwards, specialist services in these departments will be ensured through an on-call system.Govt’s move is aimed at strengthening specialist care in district and general hospitals and reducing the need for patients to depend on tertiary care centres for services that can be provided at the district level.
