KGMOA opposes extension of OP hours

The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has expressed strong protest against the government order extending Outpatient (OP) consultation hours in government hospitals across the State until 2 p.m.

In a statement in Thiruvananthapuram, the KGMOA said that the short cuts being adopted by the government, by extending the working hours of doctor, instead of addressing issues such as patient overload in OP clinics by scientifically creating posts and strengthening human resources, was not acceptable under any circumstance.

The current timing is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Doctors in government hospitals are already working without adequate rest because of limited facilities and severe shortages in human resources. Extending OP hours, instead of increasing the number of sanctioned posts, is going to push doctors into severe physical and mental stress, which will, in turn, affect the quality of care rendered to patients.

The KGMOA demanded that the government immediately fix a clear and appropriate doctor–patient ratio, specifying the number of patients a doctor should examine in a day, so that people could be provided the kind of medical care they deserved and expected.

The government should take a serious look at the acute human resources crunch in the sector and create new posts proportionate to the increase in the number of patients and the increased workload of doctors.

The KGMOA threatened to organise Statewide protests if the government did not withdraw its “unilateral” decision to extend OP hours immediately.