Kerala Chief Secretary to Review Health Secy’s Report Following IAS Association’s Appeal Against Doctors’ Protest

Kerala Chief Secretary to Review Health Secy’s Report Following IAS Association’s Appeal Against Doctors’ Protest

Highlights

The incident, which occurred last Saturday, involved the doctor waiting for an hour at the Collector’s home before treating and cleaning the infection, with the medical professional returning to the hospital around 1 pm

• Geromic George, IAS

Tensions have risen within Kerala’s administrative circles as the IAS Association has formally requested Chief Secretary Dr. V Venu to address a recent protest by doctors over summons involving the Thiruvananthapuram District Collector Geromick Georges, an IAS officer of 2015 batch. The summons required a doctor to leave a busy outpatient surgery to treat the Collector’s nail infection at his residence.

The incident, which occurred last Saturday, involved the doctor waiting for an hour at the Collector’s home before treating and cleaning the infection, with the medical professional returning to the hospital around 1 pm. This action sparked a protest among the medical community, leading to significant debate over the appropriate use of administrative privileges.

Despite the controversy, the IAS Association has cited existing provisions under Sections 3 and 8 of the Civil Service Rules, which allow doctors to visit the homes of civil servants for medical examinations. These rules stipulate that the attending medical officer can decide the timing of such visits, and that reimbursements are provided for treatments conducted at home. The Association also highlighted that publicizing details of the Collector’s health condition breaches medical ethics.

Responding to the outcry, the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) indicated that the Health Secretary has communicated with the Collector, ensuring such incidents will not recur.

As the matter escalates, Chief Secretary Dr. V Venu has announced plans to make a decision based on the Health Secretary’s detailed report, expected to be reviewed when the official returns to office on Monday.

This incident highlights ongoing issues related to the intersection of administrative authority and medical ethics, and the outcome of the forthcoming report could set significant precedents for handling such matters in the future.