199 vacancies of doctors in Malabar||||

The laxity of health department in filling the vacancies of doctors in the North Malabar region is seriously affecting the functioning of the government hospitals and dispensaries in North Malabar.
A total of 199 vacancies including that of District medical officer, deputy medical officer, reproductive and child health officer, civil surgeon and assistant surgeon have been remaining unfilled for the past many years. While Kannur is having the maximum number of unfilled vacancies for government doctors, Kasargod and Wayanad lay next behind in the list of unfilled vacancies.
In Kannur 14 posts for civil surgeons are remaining vacant; where as 77 posts are vacant for assistant surgeons. According to the doctors of the district the staff crunch has an adverse impact on the quality of medical care and health of doctors.
The permanently unfilled vacancy of the DMO and other officials are imposing back breaking work load on the doctors on duty in Kasargod. Besides the post DMO, the post of a deputy DMO, 10 posts of civil surgeons and 39 posts of assistant surgeons are also remaining unfilled in the district.
The situation of Kozhikode district is no better as a post of additional director of health, three posts out of a total of four posts for deputy DMOs and a post of RCH officer are remaining unfilled in the district. A total of 18 posts including civil and assistant surgeon also are remaining vacant here.
Other districts Wayanad and Malappuram are also having unfilled vacancies 30 and 10 respectively. Besides unfilled vacancies, the doctors who take unauthorised long leave for working in private sector have worsened the situation in the region.