Kerala   

Law to make health service mandatory: Chief Minister

V.S. Achuthanandan says government health service is in a quandary.

PALAKKAD: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said the government will bring in a law for compulsory minimum health service for doctors who studied in government quota.

Inaugurating a homoeo dispensary at Chandrapuram in Walayar near here on Sunday, the Chief Minister said the doctors who studied on government expenses in State-owned medical colleges should serve a minimum period in the State’s health services.

“The present situation is that doctors after completing their study here leave the State for employment outside. Even after getting employment in the State medical service, some doctors take leave and go abroad for very high salary and other benefits. Some of them are on unauthorised absence,” Mr. Achuthanandan said.

“This has thrown the government health service in a quandary. There is acute shortage of doctors in government hospitals. Thus the doctors who studied on government expense should serve a minimum period in the State health service,” the Chief Minister said.

The government dismissed many doctors who were absent from service without getting the required sanction. The government appointed new doctors in their place and improved the functioning of hospitals.

The recent incidence of chikungunya and viral fever could not be met effectively because of the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in government hospitals. This also affected the delivery of quality medical services to the poor.

He said that 56 Community Health Centres (CHC) would be renovated in the next two months. Already 59 CHCs were renovated under a Central government health scheme to improve their performance to national standards. The meeting was presided over by Pudussery grama panchayat president K. Suresh.

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