The Hindu : Change in duty time of doctors soon: Sankaran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Change in duty time of doctors soon: Sankaran

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA DEC. 9. The Health Minister, P. Sankaran, has said that the State Government would soon implement changes in the duty time of doctors and paramedical staff in the Health Department.

The Minister was speaking at a `Meet-the-Press' programme organised by the Alappuzha Press Club here today after inaugurating an ambulance service of the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital (MCH) started using the Local Area Development Fund of V.M. Sudheeran, MP.

Mr. Sankaran said this was to make the services of doctors and paramedical staff available in hospitals in the morning and evening hours.

``A large number of employees of the department, including doctors, are on long leave,'' he noted.

Leave facilities: According to the service rules, the employees could avail of 20-year leave to go to foreign countries, Mr. Sankaran said, adding that a section of the employees were misusing the facility. In this situation, the Government is considering a reduction of the maximum period for which leave would be granted to 10 years.

Mr. Sankaran said the Government would provide permission to start new nursing schools in the State. This is in view of the fact that more than two lakh vacancies of nurses exist in various foreign countries.

Mr. Sankaran said the various institutions which used to provide financial aid to the department were reluctant to do so now following the failure of successive Governments to effectively utilise the funds given earlier.

Health project: He said the State would soon submit a comprehensive health system project of estimated cost Rs 810 crores to the Union Government for approval.

The Minister said a Heart Foundation would soon be formed in Thiruvananthapuram.

The foundation would be connected to six district hospitals in the State.

On the shifting of the Alappuzha MCH from Alappuzha town to Vandanam here, the Minister said the process was progressing well. The present building of the Alappuzha MCH would be utilised for the District Hospital.

A virology institute would be established in Alappuzha as announced earlier.

Earlier, the Minister inaugurated the dialysis laboratory of the Alappuzha MCH.

The Alappuzha MLA, K.C. Venugopal, presided over the function.

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