Know Which Doctor Is Available: Kerala Govt Orders Hospitals to Display OP Timings and Vacancies

The Kerala government has directed all state-run hospitals and government health institutions to prominently display details of doctors, including their names, OP days and consultation timings. The information must also include sanctioned doctor posts and existing vacancies, in a move aimed at improving transparency and accountability in public healthcare services. The directive was issued by Health Minister K Muraleedharan, who instructed the Health Department to implement the system across government healthcare institutions in the state.

Doctor Details, OP Timings to Be Displayed

Under the directive, hospitals must clearly display the names of doctors available at the facility, along with the days on which they conduct outpatient consultations and their OP timings. The displayed information will also have to mention the number of sanctioned doctor posts at each institution and the number of vacancies. Authorities have been instructed to update the information regularly whenever there is a change in doctor availability or schedules. Keralam CM VD Satheesan Condoles Demise of Cultural Icon Soorya Krishnamoorthy.

Directive Covers Government Health Institutions Across Kerala

The instructions apply across the government healthcare network, from primary health centres to taluk headquarters hospitals and other state-run institutions. The Health Department has been asked to take urgent steps to ensure that the information is displayed prominently and remains updated. The government said the measure is intended to help patients know in advance which doctors are available and when consultations are conducted, reducing uncertainty during hospital visits.

Grievance Contact Details Also Required

Government hospitals have also been directed to display the contact details of the concerned Deputy District Medical Officer (Vigilance). The mechanism is intended to allow patients and members of the public to report issues such as doctor shortages or doctors not reporting for duty on time to the appropriate authorities. The Principal Secretary of the Health Department has been tasked with ensuring implementation of the directive and taking necessary action where required.

Move Follows Complaints Over Doctor Availability

The directive comes amid complaints regarding the functioning of government health institutions, including allegations of doctors being unavailable during OP hours and patients having to wait for extended periods. The issue also gained attention after a child was reportedly turned away from Thodupuzha District Hospital earlier in August due to the absence of doctors. The child's parents subsequently took her to Kottayam Medical College for treatment. The incident took place during the Health Minister's visit to the hospital.  ‘Government Approach is to Let Law Take Its Course’: Keralam Minister Kunhalikutty on ED Recommendation Against Pinarayi.

Kerala Expanding Digital Access to Health Services

The move is also part of a broader effort to improve access to information in Kerala's public healthcare system. The state's e-Health system has been implemented in hundreds of government health institutions and provides information on hospitals, available services and treatment timings, along with facilities such as online appointments in participating institutions.

The government has said that ensuring timely treatment for patients is a responsibility of the public healthcare system. The new display requirements are intended to give patients clearer information about doctor availability while creating an additional mechanism for accountability within government hospitals.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2026 09:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).