Cut-off date gaffe leaves Kerala doctors in quandary

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hundreds of doctors are in crisis after the Health Department unscientifically set the transfer cut-off date. With this, doctors are denied the transfer they deserve after three years of service and will have to remain in their current place of employment for another year.

In addition, since the elections are next year, there will be even more delays. Many now fear the chances of serving in one place for up to five years. Meanwhile, the problem can be solved if the cut-off date for applying for general relocation is changed from April 30 to May 30.

Those who were transferred in 2022 will complete three years in 2025. Those who have completed three years in their current place of work on April 30 have the opportunity to apply for a general transfer. However, the transfer of Consultant, Junior Consultant, Civil Surgeon, and Junior Administrative Medical Officer took place in May 2022.

The transfer list of assistant surgeons was released on April 25, 2022. Most of them joined in May, as they were allowed one-week time to join work. Those who joined in May were also unable to apply this time. As a result, only a few assistant surgeons who joined in April were eligible for transfer this time.

Doctors who have been working outside their hometowns for over three years are now perturbed over the happenings. The Kerala Government Specialist Doctors Association has written a letter to the government addressing the concern.

This time, the draft list for transfer made public the medical reasons cited by doctors, including the details of their illnesses. Those suffering from leprosy, among others, had sought the benefits of transfer. The doctors said the move to publicize personal details was nothing short of repulsive and uncouth. The doctors have also complained about this to the health department.