Working arrangement and mutual transfer; Collaboration by doctors to sabotage transfer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Move by some doctors to avoid general transfer in the health department by obtaining their preferred locations through working arrangements and mutual transfer. This is being done through political and organizational influence.

It is alleged that even the legitimate applications of non-influential doctors are not being considered due to this. The rule is that general transfer should be completed before the school reopens. As it is election time, the transfer will be delayed. The influential ones are securing safe positions before that.

Doctors who have completed three years in a district are being transferred. Some of those who were transferred last time returned to their home districts within days using influence. An Orthopedic Junior Consultant who was transferred from Thiruvananthapuram to Kottayam was brought back on a three-month working arrangement within days. The working arrangement was extended by an extraordinary order last month. With this, he can continue in the working arrangement until he gets transferred to Thiruvananthapuram.

This happened when the application of many people who sought permission in writing to stay in their own district after showing their needs such as illness, elderly parents, treatment of children, etc. was ignored.

Misleading with Mutual transfer

Mutual transfer(swap locations with mutual understanding) is an arrangement to escape from general transfer. Two doctors of similar posts in the same district will procure a mutual transfer using higher influence. With this, the new location will be recorded in Spark. With this, one can stay in the same district for another three years.