The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) is planning to outsource the appointment of 150 staff at the recently inaugurated surgical super-speciality block of the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode.
According to an order issued on May 23, the government gave its sanction for outsourcing these posts “considering the urgent need for the functioning of the block”, constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). There are 68 posts of staff nurse, 40 posts of nursing assistant, 20 posts of hospital attender grade-II, three posts of lift operator, two posts each of ECG technician, anaesthesia technician, CSR technician, radiographer grade-II, and driver, and one post each of X-Ray attender, lab technician, pharmacist grade-II, health inspector grade-II, barber, plumber, electrician, tailor, and junior lab assistant.
Health Minister Veena George had earlier announced that 150 new posts would be created at the hospital against the backdrop of the evacuation of the patients from the block after smoke engulfed the premises following a minor explosion in its UPS room on May 2. There had been criticisms about the staff shortage at the institution to deal with such emergencies.
A section of the hospital staff, however, has criticised the move to outsource the appointments, demanding that permanent staff be appointed there. Sajith Cherandathur, functionary of the Kerala Government Nurses Union, claimed that the government was planning to outsource the jobs even as a Kerala Public Service Commission rank list for appointing nursing officers was already in force. It is learnt that the validity of the rank list is about to expire soon.
“Even after introducing new facilities at the hospital, the authorities are not creating new posts and appointing staff. The existing staff are being redeployed to manage the situation. This is not only leading to additional workload for the staff, but is also affecting patient care. For example, one nursing staff member is now forced to attend to around 50 to 60 patients a day,” he said. The union is planning to move the Kerala High Court seeking the appointment of permanent staff at the hospital.
The hospital authorities could not be reached for their comments.
Published – May 25, 2025 07:22 pm IST
