Residents protest transfer of health centre doctor

KOCHI: At a time when the government is rolling out family health centres (FHCs) across the state, the transfer of a doctor caused public ire in a village near Kanjiramattom.
Residents staged a protest in front of the community health centre (CHC), Keechery, against the decision of the government to transfer one of the doctors at the hospital on Saturday.
According to residents, Dr Vipin Mohan, who has been transferred to another health centre at Maneed near Piravom, was a “family doctor” for the villagers.
“Though the inpatient (IP) wing has been there for many years, it was for namesake until Dr Vipin joined the hospital six years ago. Now, the hospital has an IP unit with a bed strength of
24. He used to work round-theclock for patients and the hospital. He started many projects for the development of the hospital,” said K J Joseph, opposition leader, Amballoor grama panchayat.
“That’s why we staged a strike to protest against the transfer of the doctor,” he said.
The ruling LDF members of Amballoor grama panchayat also shared similar views of the opposition leader.
“It was under the leadership of Dr Vipin that many development projects have been started in the hospital. A person with immense credibility, he could secure corporate social responsibility funds from many for development projects. He could get the dilapidated building, which houses the hospital, renovated. Now, the infrastructure of the government hospital would match that of any private hospital,” said a CPM panchayat member.
“In fact, a team led by the president of the grama panchayat had gone to Thiruvananthapuram for getting the transfer order reversed, but in vain,” the member said. Officials with the hospital are also disturbed with the transfer of the doctor.
“Our hospital has made big strides in the recent years. Now, we are waiting for the national quality assurance standards (NQAS) certification,” an employee with the hospital said.
There are allegations that a hotelier influenced the government to tansfer the doctor.
“The doctor along other health officials had seized stale food from some of the hotels, including a four-star bar hotel in the area on January 14. This earned Dr Vipin the wrath of the bar owner who allegedly manipulated for his transfer,” Joseph said.
Dr Seena Suresh, medical officer of the hospital, said that Dr Vipin was relieved of his duties and another doctor joined the hospital on Saturday. She also said that there were just three doctors to carry out the OP and IP services as well as the works associated with community medicine.
Meanwhile Dr N K Kuttappan, district medical officer, said that the transfer was just a normal thing.