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Transfer of doctors will be made more transparent: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, SEPT.12. The Health Minister, K.K. Ramachandran, has said the Government will make the transfer of doctors and purchase of medicines for the department more transparent by formulating clear-cut policies.

Talking to reporters at the DCC office here today, the Minister said a draft of these policies would be published soon. He said the draft would be finalised after eliciting comments from experts and concerned sections.

Minister's intervention

``Once the policies are announced, the Minister need interfere in the issues relating to transfer and medicine purchase only when there are complaints of violation. My opinion is that the Minister need not spent his time attending to the routine administrative issues like transfer of doctors. When the policies are finalised, the Minister can devote his attention to other developmental activities in the department,'' Mr. Ramachandran said.

Policy from next year

Asked when the policies would be announced, the Minister said, ``this year's transfers are already over and the procedures for purchasing medicines are in the final stages. So this year, nothing much can be done. I had convened a meeting of officials to tell them about the Government's policies in this regard and to finalise this year's purchase without giving scope for complaints. Anyway the new policies will be announced before the next general transfer.''

Mental health

The Minister said the department would give more attention to the mental health care aspects considering the high rate of suicide and other growing mental problems in the State. Efforts would be made to set up counselling centres in collaboration with the voluntary agencies like the IMA.

Shifting of MCH

The Minister said the proposal to shift the Thrissur Medical College Hospital (MCH) to Mulankunnathukavu had not been included in the programmes of the new Ministry to be implemented in 100 days.

``There are financial constraints for completing the work going on at Mulankunnathukavu. Anyway, I will meet the Finance Minister to sort out the issue at the earliest. I have asked the college authorities to prepare a note about the issues involved in the shifting,'' he said.

He said the radiotherapy unit at the Thrissur Medical College would be commissioned soon. Similarly, the in-patient facility at the Panchakarma unit of Oushadhi would also be inaugurated soon.

Oushadhi would release two new medicines in the next few days.

The Minister was earlier received at the DCC office by the KPCC treasurer, C.N. Balakrishnan, the DCC president, C N Bhaskaran Nair, and the party leaders, Saramma Mathappan, M.R. Ramadas, A.S. Velayudhan and Usman.

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