Govt says Sabarimala healthcare services will continue; DHS transferred after suggesting TDB appoint its own doctors
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Saturday described the transfer of Director of Health Services (DHS) Dr K J Reena as a disciplinary measure, alleging that some of her actions had "not aligned with the system". His remarks, however, appeared to contradict the reasons cited in the official transfer order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The controversy centres around a letter sent by Dr Reena to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) regarding the deployment of government medical personnel for the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage. The issue had triggered a political storm, prompting the government to reiterate that healthcare arrangements for devotees would continue without disruption.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Muraleedharan said the transfer could be viewed as either an administrative move or a disciplinary action.
"Some of her actions didn't align with the system. The government won't tolerate that. She sent a letter to the Devaswom Board saying that government doctors and staff cannot be allotted for service during the Sabarimala pilgrimage. How can she say such a thing without consulting the government or the Minister? The government is bound to protect the interests of the devotees. Whoever acts against the interests of the government will not be tolerated," the Minister said.
However, the transfer order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department cited entirely different reasons. According to the order, Dr Reena was transferred and posted as Director of the Regional Public Health Laboratory, Ernakulam, after completing three years in the post of DHS. It also noted that the government was considering the selection process for appointing a regular director.
The order further mentioned that Dr Reena had availed 15 days of leave during an epidemic period.
Responding to the order, Dr Reena clarified that she had applied only for a two-day leave and that the matter had been duly communicated to the offices of the Health Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department.
When questioned about the reference to leave in the transfer order, Muraleedharan sought to downplay its significance.
"It's not about the leave — whether it's two days or 15 days, it's fine. She was transferred based on a note from the Principal Secretary. It said she has completed three years and the government can either extend her term or take other steps," he said, adding that the mention of leave in the order would be corrected.
The Minister's remarks have drawn attention to the apparent discrepancy between the official reasons recorded in the transfer order and the explanation subsequently offered by the government.
At the heart of the controversy is a letter sent by Dr Reena to the Devaswom Commissioner on May 20, following a review meeting convened to discuss preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
Contrary to the Minister's assertion, the letter did not state that government doctors and healthcare workers could no longer be deployed for Sabarimala duty. Instead, it highlighted the severe strain placed on the state's public health system due to the annual diversion of manpower and resources to the pilgrimage centre.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the communication was prepared based on a note drafted by the Sabarimala State Nodal Officer of the Health Department after the Devaswom Commissioner sought a detailed report on issues raised during the review meeting.
The letter outlined the scale of the health department's annual commitment to Sabarimala. More than 500 doctors, 300 nursing officers and over 800 other health department staff from all 14 districts are deputed during the pilgrimage season. An additional team is assigned during monthly poojas, with personnel typically serving shifts lasting seven to 10 days.
Healthcare facilities are maintained at Sannidhanam, Pampa, Appachimedu, Neelimala, Nilakkal, Charalmedu and Erumeli to cater to the medical needs of millions of devotees visiting the hill shrine each year.
The communication also documented the hardships faced by healthcare workers posted for pilgrimage duty. Medical teams often function without adequate food, accommodation and basic infrastructure, while delays in the disbursal of travel allowances further compound their difficulties.
Importantly, the letter warned that the large-scale annual deployment of medical personnel compromises service delivery and workflow in government hospitals across Kerala. The reassignment of doctors, nurses and support staff during pilgrimage periods places additional pressure on an already stretched public healthcare system, it noted.
Pointing out that healthcare services are required at Sabarimala for nearly 150 days every year, Dr Reena argued that the current arrangement was neither sustainable nor efficient in the long term.
Rather than discontinuing medical support, she proposed the establishment of a permanent healthcare mechanism for the pilgrimage centre. The letter recommended that the Travancore Devaswom Board initiate steps to recruit specialist doctors, nurses and support staff dedicated to meeting the healthcare requirements during the Sabarimala season.
Meanwhile, TDB officials have emphasised the critical importance of maintaining robust medical services at the pilgrimage site. According to a board official, around 150 cardiac emergencies are reported during the pilgrimage season, with nearly 27 per cent resulting in fatalities.
"Without doctors and paramedical staff at the site, lives could be at risk," the official said.
The episode has sparked a wider debate on balancing the healthcare demands of one of the country's largest religious pilgrimages with the operational realities of Kerala's public health system. While the government has assured devotees that existing arrangements for Sabarimala will continue unchanged, the concerns raised by health officials have renewed calls for a dedicated and sustainable medical infrastructure to serve the pilgrimage centre in the future.