Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 27: Kerala’s plan to provide specialist healthcare services round the clock at district and general hospitals is facing a manpower challenge, with government doctors calling for additional recruitment and new specialist posts.
The state government plans to extend specialist services beyond medical colleges and make treatment more accessible to people closer to their homes. The first phase is expected to cover at least one district or general hospital in every district within six months.
The proposed services will include medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, paediatrics and gynaecology, along with emergency procedures and surgeries during night hours.
The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has welcomed the initiative but said the programme should not depend on simply redeploying doctors who are already working in the public health system.
According to the association, several district and general hospitals have only a few specialists in some departments. Doctors working night emergencies may also have to manage outpatient services, inpatients and surgeries during the day, raising concerns about workload, fatigue and patient safety.
The state health system currently has around 800 doctor vacancies, including specialist and general medical posts, the association said.
Doctors have also expressed concern that shifting staff from primary and community health centres could affect essential services such as immunisation, maternal and child care and disease prevention.
KGMOA has urged the government to create new specialist posts, fill existing vacancies and strengthen emergency departments with additional medical officers and proper triage facilities.
The association said it supports the government’s effort to bring specialist treatment closer to patients but stressed that a successful 24×7 healthcare system requires adequate doctors, staff and infrastructure.
The initiative is expected to improve access to specialist care across Kerala, provided the manpower requirements are addressed before its wider implementation.