Kerala’s public healthcare system is facing a significant shortage of doctors, with 783 medical officer posts lying vacant across the state even as the government has launched an initiative to provide round-the-clock specialist services at selected hospitals. Doctors’ associations have warned that redeploying existing staff to these centres without fresh appointments could further strain peripheral health facilities.
The shortage is particularly severe at the assistant surgeon level, while hundreds of specialist positions also remain vacant across multiple cadres and departments.
431 Assistant Surgeon Posts Vacant Across Kerala
Of the 783 vacant medical officer posts, 431 are at the assistant surgeon level. Kasaragod has the highest number of vacancies with 113 posts, followed by Palakkad with 87 and Kannur with 70.
Idukki has 41 vacant posts, while Pathanamthitta has 25. The staffing shortage also extends to specialist positions, with more than 300 posts reportedly vacant across the consultant, junior consultant and senior consultant cadres.
The vacancies affect key departments including obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia, general surgery, paediatrics and general medicine.
Prateeksha Centres Launched for 24×7 Specialist Care
Against this backdrop, the government has launched ‘Prateeksha Centres’ to provide 24×7 specialist services in general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, paediatrics and gynaecology at selected district and general hospitals in every district.
The project was launched on a trial basis at Punalur Taluk Hospital on September 1.
However, the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has objected to the manner in which the initiative is being implemented. The association has warned that shifting doctors from peripheral facilities to strengthen selected centres could disrupt routine and emergency services at the hospitals from which they are transferred.
KGMOA Raises Concern Over Staff Redeployment
Expressing strong concern over moving medical personnel from peripheral units without substitute appointments, the KGMOA president said, “The impact is already evident when the pilot project was launched in Punalur.” He pointed out that a new project was launched when there is already vacancies in the existing posts.
The association has argued that expanding specialist services without addressing existing vacancies could place additional pressure on doctors and other healthcare workers.
KGMOA has also cautioned that specialist services require adequate nursing, paramedical and technical staff. According to the association, relying on existing personnel without creating permanent posts could increase workloads, affect the quality of care and place additional pressure on doctor-patient interactions.
Limited Uptake of Recent Doctor Appointments
The staffing situation has also been affected by the limited uptake of recent appointments. Of around 430 appointment letters issued by the Health Department, only 134 were reportedly received, with only about half of those doctors eventually joining duty.
The Director of Health Services in-charge said several newly appointed doctors had not joined because they were pursuing postgraduate medical courses.
The situation has added to concerns over the availability of doctors for both existing services and the newly launched specialist-care initiative.
Doctors Seek Fresh Appointments and Better Infrastructure
The government has said the manpower shortage will be addressed gradually while seeking consensus among stakeholders.
The KGMOA, however, has urged the government to make fresh appointments instead of relying on redeployment. The association has also called for equitable deployment of National Health Mission resources and formal upgrading of regional healthcare facilities.
It has maintained that strengthening 24×7 specialist services should be accompanied by adequate manpower, nursing and technical support to ensure that existing healthcare facilities are not weakened.
The dispute comes as Kerala’s public health system continues to face hundreds of vacant medical posts, raising concerns over how new round-the-clock specialist services can be expanded without placing further strain on the existing workforce.
Important Highlights
- Kerala has 783 vacant medical officer posts across the state.
- Assistant surgeon-level vacancies account for 431 of the vacant posts.
- Kasaragod has 113 vacant assistant surgeon posts, followed by Palakkad with 87 and Kannur with 70.
- More than 300 specialist posts are reportedly vacant across consultant, junior consultant and senior consultant cadres.
- Prateeksha Centres have been launched to provide 24×7 specialist services at selected hospitals.
- KGMOA has urged fresh appointments and stronger healthcare infrastructure instead of relying on staff redeployment.