Display doctors' names, OP times in govt hospitals; Health Minister issues new order

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister K Muraleedharan directed that the details of doctors in government hospitals in the state be clearly displayed for the public's knowledge. The names of doctors, OP dates and times should be displayed accurately. The minister's intervention comes amid complaints regarding the functioning of health institutions, including the absence of doctors during OP in many lower-tier hospitals in the state, leaving patients helpless.

Minister K Muraleedharan instructed the Principal Secretary of the Health Department to take immediate steps to implement this in all government health institutions, from primary health centres to taluk headquarters hospitals. It has been directed that the number of posts allotted to doctors in the health centre, the number of existing doctor vacancies, the OP hours of each doctor, and the consultation schedule should be displayed in a manner visible to patients and the public, and that these should be updated at regular intervals.

The action aims to increase transparency and accountability in the provision of health services and to provide a clear understanding to the public about the services provided by doctors.