Aug 23: Kerala is known as the biggest producer of medical professionals in India, but its government and municipality hospitals are suffering the doctor’s deficiency syndrome. The major reason behind it the money and facilities provided by the private hospitals especially overseas hospitals that motivate the doctors to go through the hospitals.
Kerala is now suffering a fresh epidemic of chikungunya in the state, but absentee of the doctors are worsening the situation. Kerala government has advertised a full-page list of 140 absentee doctors on Tuesday’s edition in all leading newspapers.
Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Kottayam and Idukki are the most affected districts in which the chikungunya hit the worst in these districts and the number of absentee doctors is highest in these areas. More than 200 people have been died from Chikungunya so far.
For overcoming the crisis government has to entreat of private practitioners, the Navy, NGOs for help. “The Government recently interviewed and appointed 280 young doctors. Only 65 joined, and many who did left within weeks to join private hospitals”, said Dr Sunny Orathil, president of the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association, KGMOA.
According to official, doctors are trying to steel benefits of both the government facility in terms of security and pension after retirement and high salary from practicing private outside the duty hospitals. A young doctor having a P.G. degree with five years experience gets Rs 25,000 while Rs 21,000 to those with less than five years’ experience, and Rs 15,000 for graduate doctors having no experience.
Kerala has strong bed strength of 43,273 in the government hospitals while private hospitals have 67517 beds in the number according to last year’s figure. The health department is trying hard to woo retired doctors and offering temporary contracts to some from private hospitals to improve the health condition in the state.
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