Keralam Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed government hospitals to ensure proper display of signboards, so that hospital services become more patient-friendly and transparent. He suggested that the details of doctors in public hospitals, their outpatient (OP) clinic days and timings be clearly displayed in hospitals.

A statement issued by the office of the Health Minister said that Mr. Muraleedharan had intervened after several complaints were received from the public regarding the functioning of government healthcare institutions. At primary healthcare institutions, patients end up waiting for long hours as doctors remained absent during OP hours

Mr. Muraleedharan has directed the Principal Secretary(Health) to take steps to implement this on an urgent basis in all government health institutions, from primary health centres to taluk headquarters hospitals.

He directed that information such as the number of sanctioned doctor posts at each health centre, the number of existing doctor vacancies, each doctor’s OP hours, and consultation schedules are displayed clearly in a manner visible to patients and the public, and that these be updated at regular intervals as and when there are changes in names/schedules. This will bring in accountability in healthcare delivery and also give patients more clarity regarding the availability of doctors, he said.

As part of the grievance redressal mechanism, the contact details of the Deputy District Medical Officer (Vigilance) concerned must also be clearly displayed at hospitals so that the public can put up complaints, if any, to the Health authorities.

The government has to take responsibility for ensuring timely treatment to patients and lapses in care should not happen, Mr. Muraleedharan said. The display boards should be put up without delay, he has directed the Principal Secretary.