THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In these difficult times more doctors, the better. Medical colleges and district hospitals will swiftly get services of 3,500 young doctors, but the government should issue an order. These doctors hold MBBS degrees are waiting for their house surgency. By foreseeing the necessity during coronavirus outbreak, MBBS results were published within one month (March 24). But the government is yet to issue an order for these doctors to enter house surgency at medical colleges.

House surgeons of the last batch are still there in medical colleges and district hospitals. Their service was supposed to end on March 31 but in the wake COVID-19 emergency, their services have been extended for 15 days. But the government seems to have forgotten to bring 3500 new house surgeons to hospitals.

As health officials attending COVID patients need to quarantine themselves, the availability of more doctors would be helpful. Even if the current batch of house surgeons continues, hospitals can accommodate 3500 more. These doctors were students at 23 private colleges and 11 government colleges. The students of private colleges are allowed house surgency at district and general hospitals. They could also serve in their own districts as well.

The medical education director has directed the house surgency candidates to volunteer by giving an affidavit. The affidavit should state that each individual had quarantined themselves for the past 14 days and didn't visit other states and nations in the past 28 days. As volunteering is not part of house surgency, doctors have not shown up.

In the meanwhile, last year MBBS, nursing, and Ayurveda students have registered for volunteer activities. Of these, 77 were assigned as per Kasaragod collector's demand.