Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 8 Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Sunday said the state government’s approach was to protect the rights of doctors, while stressing the need for them to provide better services in government hospitals.
Addressing the 69th annual IMA Kerala State Conference at Varkala, he said the government would take action on issues in the healthcare sector after assessing the situation and the shortcomings, and not merely in response to news reports.
“There may be some shortcomings, but the government’s approach is to protect the rights of doctors to the maximum extent possible,” he said.
He said doctors should also make efforts to provide better services to the public and called for cooperation from all stakeholders.
“Doctors should not be made to feel that their services are valued only in terms of salary. Even if salaries in government hospitals are comparatively lower, it is not right to dismiss the entire sector on that basis. The government wants to create a better working environment and handle the issues as effectively as possible, within its financial capacity,” he said.
Muraleedharan said he had requested Chief Minister V D Satheesan to sanction around 3,000 doctors and that the latter had agreed to provide the appointments in three phases.
“Doctors alone are not enough. Nurses are also required to assist them. Pharmacists are equally important. If medicines are dispensed by someone without the necessary expertise, there is a risk of giving expired medicines or even the wrong medicines,” he said.
He said the government would move forward with the necessary steps and called for collective efforts by all stakeholders to protect the healthcare sector.
(PTI News)
