Kochi, Monday 26 January 2010: P. K. Sreemathy, Minister for Health and Family Welfare said that the administrative and specialty cadre for Medical Officers in the Health Services would be published within 15 days.

Addressing the delegates at the general body meeting during the 43rd annual conference of the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association, Minister said that grievances regarding the list should be brought to the notice of the Government. She said that the doctors’ vacancy in the Health Services in the entry cadre is one of the lowest at about just 5-8 per cent.

The issue of having an administrative and specialty cadre for doctors had been hanging fire for long and it was one of the major demands of the Association that had gone on a non-cooperation strike for several months.

The Government’s new agreement with the Association on the salary revision issue would also be implemented, said the Minister. She said that besides standardisation of the Government healthcare facilities, modernisation with better toilet facilities, drinking water facilities and other hygienic upkeep is the new mantra.

For treatment of major diseases in children below 18 years, the Government has made arrangements to provide free treatment to all those reaching the care of General Hospital facilities and taking general ward accommodation. Treatment could be for major heart disorders, orthopaedic problems or any other disease involving major surgery.

On the academic side, the Government is planning to introduce small courses in the General Hospital for training more human resources and utilising them, keeping with the demands of time.

As such, nursing assistant courses would be started in general hospitals, she added. The Government had opened at least three nursing colleges in the last three years, P. K. Sreemathy said.