Health Department Tells Devaswom Board It Cannot Send Doctors for Sabarimala Mandala Season Duty, Asks It to Make Its Own Arrangements
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Health Department has informed the Travancore Devaswom Board about the difficulties involved in deputing doctors and healthcare personnel for duty during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. In a letter addressed to the Devaswom Commissioner, Health Services Director Dr. K.J. Reena urged the Devaswom Department to take the initiative to appoint dedicated doctors and support staff specifically for Sabarimala.
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The letter points out that doctors assigned to Sabarimala during the Mandala season are often not provided with adequate accommodation and food facilities. It also notes delays in the disbursement of travel allowances to the medical personnel deployed at the hill shrine.
According to the Health Department, more than 500 doctors, over 300 nursing officers, and more than 800 healthcare workers from across the state are deployed during the Mandala and Makaravilakku pilgrimage seasons each year. In addition, around 100 doctors from the Medical Education Department are assigned to the pilgrimage duty. For the monthly pooja period, a team of 20 healthcare personnel is deputed.
The department has highlighted that these deployments result in both manpower shortages and financial strain on the health sector. The prolonged absence of doctors from their regular hospital duties adversely affects patient care and disrupts other healthcare services, the letter states.
As both the Health Department and the Devaswom Department function under the supervision of the same minister, officials are attempting to resolve the issue through inter-departmental discussions.
Responding to the matter, Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar said that the board had taken note of the Health Services Director's communication and would hold discussions with Health Department officials. He added that the issue would be brought to the attention of the state government. Matters that can be resolved at the departmental level would be addressed through discussions, while other concerns would be referred to the government for consideration.