THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) has alleged that Thiruvananthapuram Collector Geromic George abused his power to summon a government doctor to avail treatment at his house. The KGMOA has also complained to the health minister and the chief secretary regarding the incident.

The DMO was intimated through a message to send a surgeon to the Collector's home for personal reasons. Initially, the DMO was not ready for this as there was no such precedent. But on being asked again, the DMO called the superintendent of the general hospital and asked him to send a doctor to the collector's house. Following this, a doctor was appointed from the surgery department of the hospital. The doctor was sent to the collector's home after stopping the out-patient (OP) checks at the hospital during a busy time. The collector did not specify the reason for summoning the doctor, who found out it was for the treatment of a fungal infection of the nail after reaching the collector's residence.

The collector was in a meeting when the doctor arrived. Hence, the doctor was made to wait for three and a half hours before giving the treatment. The KGMOA has warned that the Collector's action is an abuse of power and will launch a strong agitation if no action is taken to protect the dignity of the doctors.

The General Hospital is struggling due to a shortage of staff and patients can see doctors only after waiting for hours. Doctors examine patients beyond capacity on a daily basis.