Wayanad: In an unexpected move, the Directorate of Medical Education has instructed the transfer of a group of seven senior resident doctors from the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Kozhikode and Government General Hospital to the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Wayanad for a month, starting from February 22 to May 21.
This sudden decision has reportedly intensified the strain on patient care at the two healthcare institutions in Kozhikode, which were already grappling with a shortage of doctors.
According to a recent media report by The Hindu, among the transferred doctors, two are from the department of Gynaecology, while the rest are from the departments of Anaesthesia, General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, and Paediatrics. Sources revealed that the transfer order carried a stern tone, warning of potential disciplinary action if the resident doctors failed to comply with the directive. Previously, authorities used this strategy of deploying resident doctors to address the immediate workforce crunch.
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Speculations arise that the transfers might be a response to criticism regarding inadequate infrastructure at the medical college hospital in Wayanad, highlighted after a recent incident involving a farmer attacked by a tiger.
Additionally, the move is suspected to be connected to the impending annual inspections by the National Medical Commission, scheduled between February and March, reports The Daily.
Meanwhile, the General Surgery department at the popular 'Beach Hospital' in Kozhikode faces a reduction in outpatient services due to the transfer of two consultant doctors. Despite the government order for their transfer being issued in June last year, they were asked to continue their service citing staff shortages.
However, the decision to implement the transfer was finalized on February 28, with one doctor being sent to the Government District Hospital at Vadakara and another to the Government General Hospital at Thalassery in Kannur.
Considering that certain departments are left with only two doctors now, the hospital management has come up with a strategic move of assigning days to particular works to handle the work pressure. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday outpatient (OP) services will be available while surgeries will take place only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Previously patients could avail OP services 6 days a week and the hospital could accommodate 150 to 180 surgeries in a month. The ENT department of the hospital is also grappling with the shortest of doctors after the retirement of a senior doctor. The creation of new posts and appointment of more doctors are being demanded by the doctors considering the increasing number of patients in the facility.
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