Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Kerala Minister Reaffirms Six-Month Plan for 24x7 Specialist Services
Kerala plans to offer specialist medical care in government hospitals all day and night.
The health minister says this plan will begin within six months.
He says more doctors will be hired and that the hiring process has already started.
About 140 doctors have reportedly been appointed, while 134 doctors recently received official advice memos.
The doctors’ association agrees that better hospital care is important.
However, it says many doctor jobs are still empty and that new positions are needed.
It worries that moving current doctors could weaken other public hospitals.
The minister asked the association to discuss its concerns directly with him.
Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan said the government will proceed with round-the-clock specialist services in district and general hospitals within six months.
The government says it will recruit doctors and other staff, with about 140 doctors already appointed, according to the minister.
Muraleedharan said around 400 doctors were called from the PSC rank list for advice memos, and 134 received them.
The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association cited about 800 vacant doctor posts and requested new specialist positions.
The association warned that redeploying existing doctors could disrupt the three-tier public healthcare system and urged discussions before implementation.
- Who
- Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan, the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association, and government hospital doctors.
- What
- The Kerala government will introduce 24x7 specialist services in district and general hospitals and recruit additional doctors and staff.
- When
- The minister spoke on August 30 and 31; the services are planned within six months.
- Where
- Government district and general hospitals in Kerala, with the minister speaking in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur.
- Why
- The government says it wants to improve government hospitals and provide patients with maximum treatment, while the doctors’ association says adequate new staffing is needed for safe implementation.
Government Position
Doctors’ Association Concerns
Proceeding with 24x7 services
Government Position
Muraleedharan said the government’s declared decision will go ahead and that 24-hour night service is guaranteed in general hospitals.
Doctors’ Association Concerns
The association welcomed the objective but said practical staffing problems should be addressed before the scheme is implemented.
How staffing should be handled
Government Position
The government says it will recruit doctors and fill vacancies progressively rather than all at once.
Doctors’ Association Concerns
The association called for immediate creation of new specialist posts and warned against relying on redeployment of existing doctors.
Effect on public healthcare
Government Position
The minister said the government would meet the staffing requirements and asked the association to work collaboratively to resolve issues.
Doctors’ Association Concerns
The association said redeploying doctors could affect the three-tier public healthcare system, especially because some hospitals have only three or four specialists in certain departments.
- Service plan
- Round-the-clock specialist services are planned for district and general hospitals within six months.
- Government position
- Muraleedharan said the government will not change or withdraw the announced decision.
- Doctors appointed
- The minister said around 140 doctors have already been appointed.
- Recent recruitment process
- Around 400 doctors from the PSC rank list were called for advice memos; 134 attended and received them.
- Reported vacancies
- The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association cited around 800 vacant Health Department doctor posts.
- Vacancy breakdown
- The association cited about 300 specialist, 476 general and 23 administrative vacancies.
- Association proposal
- The association called for new specialist posts and postgraduate-qualified assistant surgeons to support shift and stay-duty arrangements.
Sources
More docs to be recruited, 24-hour services in govt hospitals within 6 months: Muraleedharan
No Backtracking on 24x7 Specialist Services: Keralam Health Minister
No backtracking on 24x7 specialist services: Keralam health minister