Doctors' Schedules Public: Kerala Hospitals Get Transparent

In a bid to enhance patient experience and transparency, Keralam Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has mandated that all government hospitals prominently display doctor signboards. This directive follows widespread public complaints concerning the functioning of healthcare institutions, particularly issues of doctors being absent during outpatient clinic hours.

The Minister has instructed the Principal Secretary (Health) to urgently implement this policy across all government health facilities, ranging from primary health centers to taluk headquarters hospitals. The displayed information will include the number of sanctioned doctor positions, current vacancies, and each doctor's specific outpatient clinic days and timings.

This initiative aims to foster accountability in healthcare delivery and provide patients with clear information regarding doctor availability. Additionally, contact details for the Deputy District Medical Officer (Vigilance) will be made visible for grievance redressal, ensuring patients have a channel to report concerns. The Minister emphasized the government's responsibility to ensure timely patient treatment and prevent lapses in care.