3 months ago
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The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) organised protestation meetings crossed Kannur territory connected Tuesday (March 10, 2026) against a authorities bid extending the moving hours of doctors successful authorities wellness institutions, alleging that the determination was “undemocratic and unscientific.”
The protestation gathering astatine the District Hospital, Kannur, was inaugurated by Dr. Ajith Kumar, North Zone vice-president, portion the objection astatine the General Hospital, Thalassery, was inaugurated by Dr. Jithin V.S.M., territory president. Doctors held protestation gatherings astatine large centres successful the territory and symbolically burnt copies of the authorities order.
In a statement, the KGMOA said that portion large reforms successful the wellness assemblage should usually beryllium discussed with each stakeholders, the authorities had unilaterally issued the bid expanding doctors’ work hours and redefining their responsibilities successful an unsound manner.
According to the association, doctors presently analyse betwixt 150 and 200 patients a time successful galore hospitals. Extending their work hours further would adversely impact the prime of attraction and summation the hazard of aesculapian errors, it said. The relation added that the due solution is to make much posts and guarantee an capable doctor-patient ratio.
The KGMOA besides criticised the determination to hole the work hours of infirmary superintendents from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., adjacent though astir offices statesman functioning astatine 10 a.m., stating that the determination would make applicable difficulties successful administration.
The KGMOA warned that expanding workload without strengthening manpower would weaken the nationalist healthcare system. “The eventual victims volition not beryllium doctors, but patients who beryllium connected authorities hospitals successful their astir susceptible situations,” it said.
It demanded that the authorities retreat the bid and guarantee that consultative and evidence-based measures are adopted to safeguard the prime of attraction disposable to mean patients.
