Pro-Left unions in Kozhikode demand urgent filling of Health dept vacancies
Staff unions in Kozhikode say vacant Health department posts and delayed promotions are affecting government hospital services and leaving job aspirants in limbo.
Pro-Left staff unions in Kozhikode have urged the authorities to expedite the filling of vacant posts in the Health department, arguing that the shortfall has impaired the functioning of government hospitals in the district.
Leaders of the Kerala NGO Union and the Kerala Government Officers' Association (KGOA) said several posts in the district vector control unit — including field worker, junior health inspector grade I, health inspector, health supervisor, public health nurse, public health nurse supervisor, technical assistant grade I, technical assistant grade II, malaria officer and biologist — have been lying vacant since May following the retirement of the previous incumbents.
KGOA State vice-president P.P. Sudhakaran said no move has been made to draw up a seniority list of staff eligible for promotion to these positions. Posts such as district lab officer, chief lab technician, junior scientific officer and senior scientific officer are also vacant in healthcare institutions, he added.
According to Kerala NGO Union leaders, medicine distribution has been disrupted in most government hospitals because pharmacist and store superintendent posts remain unfilled. The absence of senior nursing officers, nursing officers, nursing superintendents and deputy nursing officers is likewise affecting hospital operations, they alleged. They also pointed to unfilled posts of part-time sweeper, grade II assistant and grade I assistant, which they said are essential for maintaining hygiene in hospitals, and said promotions to posts such as senior clerk and administrative assistant have not been carried out.
The unions noted that the seniority list for promotions is normally prepared and implemented by May, after which the Kerala Public Service Commission is informed of the need to appoint staff to entry-cadre posts. With neither step taken, many government job aspirants have been left in the lurch, they alleged.
The leaders further claimed that authorities are transferring staff arbitrarily in violation of guidelines, and alleged that the mismanagement of government hospitals is creating conditions favourable to the private healthcare sector.