Doctors oppose the health department’s decision to change OP timings
The health department of Kerala has decided to extend the OP timing till 6 pm from 9 am in hospitals with more than four doctors. The department has decided to initiate this despite the protest from the doctors.
The doctors association has termed the decision undemocratic since the government didn’t discuss it with the respective associations before execution. The government has issued a similar order in April, this year. But since the doctors have decided to go for an indefinite strike, the government had to freeze the plan. The programme will be implemented at the Community Health Centres(CHC’s) at first. In the first phase, the OP timings will change in around 102 CHC’s across the state.
Dr A K Raoof, state general secretary of Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) said that “It is nothing but an undemocratic decision since the government had not held a discussion with the service organizations before taking such a crucial policy decision. This is going to affect the works of the CHCs when the doctors are asked to sit in the OP till evening”. “Several of these CHCs have either delivery facilities or are having inpatients. Extending the OP timing means they will not be available for the other duties. There is no deployment of more doctors in many CHCs. The decision is being taken without any scientific study,” he added. The doctors also fear that this will affect the doctor-patient relationship. “When the government claims that there will be evening OPs and if the doctors are not available for duty, then the hospital authorities have to face the ire of the patients,” Dr Raoof added.
But the government stays firm in the decision since it has been decided to conduct evening OPs in all hospitals under the Aardram mission. Health department points out that the OP’s at CHC’s would run easily till evening if there are four or more doctors. The doctors have the opinion that it will affect the inpatient care and other public health activities carried out by the CHCs.
The Indian Medical Association(IMA) says there is nothing wrong in having evening OP’s if there is adequate manpower. “When there are four doctors, two each will be deputed for the morning and evening OPs. It is nearly impossible to man the OPs with just two doctors with the kind of patient load,” said IMA state secretary Dr N Sulphi.
Source: Times of India