Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Govt Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has urged health minister K Muraleedharan to strengthen specialist services at Punalur Taluk Hospital without withdrawing doctors from other major healthcare institutions in Kollam district. Govt had launched the 24-hour specialist services on a pilot basis at the hospital by redeploying doctors from other hospitals in the district.KGMOA said doctors have been redeployed to Punalur from institutions including Kollam district hospital, Kundara and Nedungolam taluk hospitals, Neendakara community health centre and Thevalakkara family health centre. In a letter to the minister, the association said these institutions were already functioning with limited manpower and replacement had not been given while shifting doctors.Govt had assured the association that nine doctors would be appointed to ensure specialist services from 8am to 8pm in district and general hospitals. But the association pointed out that even half the required number of doctors were not appointed in several specialties, making it difficult to implement the proposed 12-hour services effectively.The association warned that further withdrawal of doctors could seriously affect the ability of these institutions to meet the increasing demands of patients and maintain existing services, including emergency care.It also raised concerns over the transfer of doctors who had completed years of service in difficult areas and had subsequently secured postings at locations of their choice under existing norms. Such transfers without transparent procedures, it said, amounted to a denial of natural justice. The consent of the doctors concerned, and existing rules and norms should be considered while carrying out such redeployments.KGMOA welcomed govt’s reported plan to appoint additional doctors at Punalur Taluk Hospital through the National Health Mission (NHM). However, it said the NHM manpower sanctioned for Kollam district should not be concentrated at a single institution. The additional staff should be distributed across hospitals based on patient load and public health requirements.
