24×7 Special Services in Kerala Hospitals: Meeting between KGMOA, Govt. ‘positive’

The Kerala Government Doctors Association (KGMOA) and the state government, which have been at loggerheads over the latter’s decision to introduce round-the-clock special care services in select hospitals in the districts, appear to have ironed out their differences at a meeting between Health Minister K Muraleedharan and doctors on Sunday (August 30, 2026) afternoon.

The KGMOA state leadership who met Mr. Muraleedharan said that all concerns and concerns as well as suggestions of the association have been brought to the minister and a detailed discussion is possible on the government’s decision to introduce 24×7 special services in general and district hospitals.

“The meeting was very positive and constructive and the minister responded very positively to our concerns and most of our major concerns were addressed,” said PK Sunil, state president of KGMOA.

The government has informed doctors that the plan is to provide specialist services from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and teleconsultation services from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am KGMOA has been assured that a minimum of nine specialist doctors in each medical field will be provided in all hospitals where 24×7 specialist services are introduced.

Creating posts

The government has also given an assurance that sufficient number of specialist posts will be created within the next three months and that the Director of Health Services has been mandated to submit a proposal for creation of these posts.

Until the creation of these additional positions, the lack of specialists will be solved by the transfer of specialist doctors from peripheral institutes. It was further assured that such transfer would be purely based on the willingness of the concerned doctors. Doctors who will be transferred will also be given special allowances, said Dr. Sunil.

Pilot project

The 24×7 service will be initially implemented as a pilot project and will be revised monthly. Any other required positions will be created based on the workload and requirements identified in individual institutions.

Emergency services will also be strengthened and more trauma doctor posts will be created. A triage system will be implemented in all hospitals where casualty services are provided, which KGMOA has been demanding for a long time.

Filling vacancies

KGMOA said the minister also gave an assurance that immediate steps would be taken to fill up all the existing vacancies within a month. Steps will also be taken to expedite promotion and deployment of cadres.

The minister assured that adequate strength of medical staff and other support services would be ensured for effective functioning of the proposed special services, KGMOA said.

The government also announced its decision that health doctors working in underserved districts will be given a special incentive of 30% of the current salary, it added.

KGMOA added that it wholeheartedly welcomes the positive and constructive approach of the minister and hopes that the assurances given by the government will be translated into timely action.

Published – 30 Aug 2026 19:52 IST