THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite the protest from doctors , the health department has decided to extend the OP timing till 6pm from 9am in hospitals with more than four doctors.At first it will be implemented in community health centres (CHCs). In the first phase, OP timings will change in as many as 102 community health centres across the state.However, the doctors’ association has termed the change as undemocratic since it was not discussed with them before execution. When the government had issued a similar order in April, the doctors had gone for an indefinite strike following which the government had frozen the order.“It is nothing but an undemocratic decision since the government had not held a discussion with the service organizations before taking such a crucial policy decision. This is going to affect the works of the CHCs when the doctors are asked to sit in the OP till evening,” said Dr A K Raoof, state general secretary of Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA).Meanwhile, the government is firm on implementing the order as it has been decided to conduct evening OPs in all hospitals under the Aardram Mission.“If there are four or more doctors in a CHC, then the OPs can easily be conducted till evening,” said a senior health department official.But the doctors are of the view that if the doctors are asked to sit in OPs till 6pm, it will affect the inpatient care and other public health activities carried out by the CHCs.“Several of these CHCs have either delivery facilities or are having inpatients. Extending the OP timing means they will not be available for the other duties. There is no deployment of more doctors in many CHCs. The decision is being taken without any scientific study,” said Dr Raoof.The Indian Medical Association (IMA) said there was nothing wrong in having evening OPs if there was adequate manpower. “When there are four doctors, two each will be deputed for the morning and evening OPs. It is nearly impossible to man the OPs with just two doctors with the kind of patient load,” said IMA state secretary Dr N Sulphi.The doctors also fear that the decision would lead to friction between the doctors and the patients. “When the government claims that there will be evening OPs and if the doctors are not available for duty, then the hospital authorities have to face the ire of the patients,” Dr Raoof added.The KGMOA has convened its state committee on December 20 to plan future course of action to protest against the unilateral decision.

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